Development of the Arctic Fleet In the Russian Federation

Russian Arctic fleet plays a key role in the development of the Arctic transport system in the Russian Federation. The authors underline the important role of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and nuclear ice breakers for maintenance of navigation in Polar areas. The directions of the nuclear Arctic fleet development in Russia and main types of iceclass marine transport in the Russian Federation are discussed. The nuclear ice breakers efficiency in comparison with diesel-electric ice breakers efficiency is presented. The authors state development of the ice-breaking transportation and the prospects of the Russian Arctic fleet development until 2040. There are many international and national political and legal issues that need to be addressed to push the Arctic marine transportation and particular in the NSR into an operational transportation route. Among legal problems in the Russian Arctic there are international struggle for Arctic territory and internal transformation of Arctic fleet in the Russian Federation. The governmental policy and regulations of existing problems is presented. New management and organizational measures on the governmental level can promote economic efficiency and safety of marine transportation on the ways of the NSR in the polar and sub-polar regions.