The Northern sea route: a retrospective, strategic solutions and prospects of development

The article considers the history of the Northern sea route formation and the current state of this transit artery, which makes it possible to determine the potential, existing problems and prospects for using the considered communication. The importance of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation as a strategic region rich in minerals is noted. The main export and transit orientation of the Arctic communications was revealed. Attention is paid to the development of international cooperation. A review of cargo flows is given and an analysis of the state of cargo transportation in the SMP is carried out. Alternative schemes of cargo transportation from region to region are proposed, which allows to significantly reduce the cost of transport services — this will further reduce the cost of transported products for the end user. It is proposed to organize intra-basin transportation through or through the operation of all types of transport that can participate in the «SMP-regions» system. The selection criteria for each participant will be the cost of transportation. The key positions in this system are occupied by river and sea transport, since there are no other types of transport. In connection with the active development of the SMP, the system proposed by the authors will be actively developed as it coincides with the key positions of the strategy for the development of the economy and transport of the Russian Federation