What is Ice Conditions of Navigation

The chapter presents a description of conventional and deep-water shipping routes within the water areas of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). There are provided the evaluation of the hydrographical survey of the Arctic Ocean seabed with respect to navigational safety along with the summary of the principal factors affecting the efficiency and safety of shipping in the polar water. The chapter discusses the current situation and major development tendencies of the NSR, in particular the forecasted growth of navigation intensity, increase of the shares of high ice-strengthened heavy-tonnage vessels and hazardous cargoes in transportation, and spread of the year-round navigation zone to the East. Some of the research findings obtained during the previous decade at the Arctic Faculty of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping are provided. The assessment of the effects of shallows and ice on the working capacity of the NSR for deep-draft vessels is provided.