Selecting the optimal development strategy of the Northern Sea Route

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to work out a set of measures to improve the Northern Sea Route (NSR) with an account of the existing trends in its development. Moreover the graph theory has been applied in order to select for the optimal development roadmap. This work is based on the graph theory that is applied to the issues of constructing a strategy for the development of complex economic and logistic systems. The article studies some essential issues of formation and selection of the development and modernization strategy of transport and logistics routes in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Special attention is paid to the main Arctic route-the Northern Sea Route. Based on the study of the main development problems of this transport corridor, the work proposes a consistent series of steps that include such measures as upgrading the existing NSR infrastructure, increasing its capacity, creating of an information system that ensures safe and efficient navigation, as well as corresponding changes in legislation in order to create special economic port areas. According to the authors, these steps will significantly improve the competitiveness of the NSR compared to alternative transport and logistics corridors. The study also proposes an algorithm for choosing the most optimal way of strategy implementation, which will make it possible to achieve the main goal-to ensure the NSR capacity at the level of 30 million tons of cargo per year by 2030. The materials presented in the article indicate the special importance of the Arctic transport and logistics corridors for the socio-economic development of the country and the respective regions. One of the most important transport arteries in the Arctic is the Northern Sea Route. The article analyzes the development dynamics, problem aspects, as well as the prospects for the future of the NSR. Based on the graph theory the authors have proposed a methodology for choosing the strategy of modernization and development of the NSR up to 2030.