The main topics of the issue:

SEVMORPUT ENTERS WATERWAY

On 6 March 2019, the port of Arkhangelsk welcomed the Sevmorput, the world’s only nuclear-powered LASH carrier ship. This is the first, and not the last as we now know, time that such a giant has been moored at Arkhangelsk port.

TURNKEY OFFSHORE FACILITIES

Arkhangelsk Oblast has been the cradle of shipbuilding since the time of Peter I. Given the growing attention to the Arctic, it pursues directions that deal with engineering of offshore platforms in parallel with designing of fishing, cargo and passenger ships.

LONG WAY OFFSHORE

Arkhangelsk Oblast is one of the provinces working to enhance petroleum engineering for the Arctic. To learn more about how the offshore fields are being developed and “polar” competencies formed, Sozvezdye talked to Vladimir Vovk, a professor, doctor of sciences, honored worker of oil and gas industry who devoted more than forty years of his life to offshore development, former director for offshore engineering at Gazprom, former CEO at RosShelf, and currently an advisor at Gazprom Neft Shelf.

ECONOMY OF POMORLAND: INVEST IN IT

Arkhangelsk Oblast is an economically advanced region in Northwest Russia. Alongside with sea-related industries (ship building and repair, transportation, fishing), of huge importance to its economy are wood harvesting and wood processing, diamond mining, agriculture, and commerce.

OCEAN OF OPPORTTUNITY

The fifth International Arctic Forum 2019 will take place on 9–10 April 2019 in Saint Petersburg at the Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Centre. “Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” is a key platform for discussing challenges and prospects of the Arctic Region on a world level.

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF

A component essential to Arctic development is polar aviation. Most of the aircraft being operated by the airlines conducting flights to northern destinations are built as far back as the Soviet times. Their high wear rate means they will have to be replaced with more modern designs.