During the summer-autumn navigation of 2020, the Marine Operations Headquarters (MOH) of FSUE Atomflot completed eleven transits in the water area of the Northern Sea Route without icebreaker support. The company's customers have used a new service – information and navigation support along the sailing route. Vessels of various ice classes moved both east and west. This type of assistance is possible provided that the vessel, in accordance with the Navigation Rules for the Northern Sea Route, can navigate without icebreaker support.

“By the beginning of the summer-autumn navigation, we have prepared the automated control system of the Marine Operations Headquarters for commissioning,” says Leonid Irlitsa, first deputy general director, director for maritime traffic of FSUE Atomflot. - It collects and analyzes information on hydrometeorological, navigation and ice conditions in the water area of the Northern Sea Route within 24 hours. Today we are ready to offer our clients not only navigational safety, but also provide route optimization with the individual sailing recommendations. Modern information technologies and the experience of our specialists offer new opportunities to use the Northern Sea Route, making it more accessible and more attractive from a commercial perspective."

During the summer-autumn navigation, ships flying the flags of the Russian Federation, Panama, Marshall Islands and Malta used the information and navigation support service. On a real-time basis, ship drivers were provided with personal navigation recommendations and the most up-to-date information on all navigational hazards on the route of vessels in the water area of the Northern Sea Route.

In the future, the automated control system will become the single navigation control center for ships. It will make it possible to optimize the traffic routes and the arrangement of nuclear-powered icebreakers in the water area of the Northern Sea Route. The ultimate goal of the product implementation will be the transition to automatic routing in the Arctic region, which will increase its logistic component, ensure the maximum safety of vessel traffic and affect the commercial attractiveness of the Northern Sea Route. The introduction of an automated control system of the Marine Operations Headquarters is a new step in the development of navigation along the Northern Sea Route and an increase in cargo traffic along it to 80 million tons by 2024.

For reference:
On August 31, 2020 FSUE Atomflot put the automated control system of the Marine Operations Headquarters into commercial operation. This software and hardware package allows organizing shipping, monitoring ice and navigation conditions, collecting and analyzing hydrometeorological data.
The "Rules of navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route" were approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated September 18, 2020 No. 1487.

The management of the water area of the Northern Sea Route is carried out using the principle of "two keys": the organization of navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route is provided by the Marine Operations Headquarters of FSUE Atomflot, and permits for navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route are issued by the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport or its subordinate organization in agreement with the Headquarters.

The tasks of the Headquarters include:

• ensuring the safety of navigation, as well as monitoring and preventing pollution of the marine environment
• development of routes for navigation of ships and the use of ships of the icebreaker fleet
• provision of information services in the field of the organization of navigation of ships, requirements for ensuring the safety of navigation of ships, ensuring the implementation of icebreaker assistance of ships
• assistance in organizing search and rescue operations in the water area of the Northern Sea Route

Communications Department of FSUE Atomflot