Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Kara Sea: Shipping and problems of development

1977; Volume: 1; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10889377709388619

2377-7710

V. M. Yazikova,

Arctic and Russian Policy Studies

Abstract The Kara Sea, which is already one of the most heavily traveled segments of the Northern Sea Route along the Siberian coast, is expected to play an increasingly important role in the resource development of north Siberian coastal areas. For the time being, its transport role is largely limited to Unking the lower reaches of the Yenisey River, including the ports of Dudinka (serving the Noril'sk nickel‐copper‐platinum metals complex) and the timber port of Igarka, with the outside world. Coastwise shipments through the Kara Sea account for 73 percent of total tonnage, and overseas shipments 27 percent. By far the most important component of coastwise trade is traffic between Dudinka and the ports of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Kandalaksha in Northern European Russia. The predominant westbound flow consists of metals from Noril'sk smelters as well as surplus concentrates destined for smelters in the Kola Peninsula (mainly Mochegorsk); the lesser eastbound flow consists of materials and supplies for Noril'sk. Traffic on the Dudinka route has greatly increased since 1970 in connection with the expansion of the Noril'sk complex, and efforts have been made to prolong the shipping season through the use of nuclear icebreakers. The author recommends that greater use be made of the Kara Sea in supplying oil and gas development centers in the northern Ob' basin. (The translation is by William Barr, University of Saskatchewan.)