ARCOP - Arctic Operational Platform
Overview
Background & policy context:
The oil and gas resources of the Arctic regions in Russia are the world's biggest energy reserve outside the OPEC countries. Due to their geographical location they are an important source in meeting the energy need in Europe. There are a number of alternative routes for conveying oil and gas: direct pipelines, shipments across the Baltic Sea and direct carriage by ships along the Western part of the Northern Sea Route. All of these alternatives must be further developed to increase security of supply and cost-efficiency. The ARCOP project aims to develop an alternative that will make use of the Northern Sea Route.
Objectives:
The environmental safety of shipping has lately become a central issue in transport by sea. European energy supply cannot be built upon a transport system that would cause an environmental hazard. Critical assessment of environmental safety is one of the priorities of the ARCOP project, while the economics of transport dictates the viability of the transport solution developed.
Within the framework of ARCOP, the project sought for technology-based cost-efficiency for the entire transport system. The laws and agreements regulating transport play a key role in terms of both economy and environmental safety. ARCOP aims to map out and give recommendations for the legislative basis to be applied. An open discussion between the various interested parties is the best way to take the development in a direction that satisfies all the parties concerned. Discussions based on research and development and drafting of common recommendations are essential elements within ARCOP.
Methodology:
- Development of collection methods for ice information and ice forecasts with a view to choosing transport routes.
- Assessment of the rules and regulations on transport by sea and of insurance and payment systems.
- Development of a united transport system for Arctic oil and gas transport.
- Development of the environmental impact assessment method and the environmental hazard management system.
- Trial in practice of the solutions developed and recommendations given during an actual transport assignment.
- Organisation of expert meetings between industry, authorities and representatives of technology to direct the project, to assess the results and to give recommendations.
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