Example output of INSROP GIS

To examine all the possibilities of the NSR as an international commercial sea-lane, the Ship & Ocean Foundation, aided and encouraged by The Nippon Foundation, had carried out 'International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP)' from 1993 to 1999. The INSROP was an international project, collaborated closely with Japan, Norway and Russia, where participated researchers numbered 390 from 14 countries pursuing multi-disciplinary study of the NSR.
INSROP had been carried out from 1993 to 95 as its Phase I and in the two-year period from 1997 to 98 as the Phase II. Four sub-programmes were implemented in Phase I: a) Natural Conditions and Ice Navigation, b) Environmental Factors and Challenges, c) Trade and Commercial Shipping Aspects of the NSR, and d Political, Legal, Cultural and Strategic Factors. Each sub-programme had some 20 to 40 studies. In Phase II, an integration was made of the results of the studies in Phase I, together with supplemental work suggested by an international evaluation group. INSROP GIS (Geographical Information System) was formulated in Phase II on the basis of extensive data accumulated in the both Phases. Navigation simulation via the NSR was another outcome in Phase II, which evaluated the NSR operations by making use of sea ice statistics data on the routes and newly developed algorithms for ship performance prediction in ice-infested waters.

Practical Navigation Test in the Northern Sea Route

Beside the INSROP work, the SOF organized two projects in 1995, i.e., an experimental voyage via the NSR and an international symposium on the NSR in Tokyo.
The experimental voyage was performed with an ice-strengthened cargo ship, the Kandalakiha (14,700 DWT) from Yokohama to Kirkenes in Norway, making observations and measurements of various items by a research team of eighteen experts and specialists on board from Japan, Russia and Canada. The voyage afforded us a good chance to deepen our understanding of natural conditions and ship performance through the NSR and also realize existing navigation systems and regulations via the route. In October 1995, INSROP Symposium Tokyo '95 (IST'95) was held and the results of the studies in Phase I were presented for discussion.
In 1999, the SOF successfully collaborated on an international conference, "The Northern Sea Route User Conference The 21st Century - Turning Point for the Northern Sea Route" in Oslo. Great numbers of researchers and persons concerned or interested attended at the conference from various countries. Deep and extensive discussions took place among the participants at several workshops of the conference.

JANSROP Phase II