The issue of environmental safety is a priority for transportation along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), said Sergey Ivanov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on environmental protection, ecology and transport.
Noting that the Northern Sea Route has a huge potential for world trade, and cargo turnover on it is growing every year, Ivanov pointed out the need for icebreaking escort. After all, in the event of any environmental incident with a ship in the Arctic, the environmental damage will be two to three times higher than outside it, he said.
Ivanov stressed that the Arctic nature is very vulnerable. "And God forbid there will be a spill of oil or petroleum products, the consequences will be very, very severe. I don't want to croak ill, but environmental safety on the Northern Sea Route should be treated especially carefully, attentively and accurately," concluded the special representative of the president.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
