International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP)
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) linking the Far East to Europe via the Arctic Sea, though it is the shortest route, about half as long as the conventional shipping route via the Suez Canal, is navigable only during a few summer months because of severe weather conditions. If it is made navigable yearround, there will be an immense economic effect.
In view of this great potential, the Ship & Ocean Foundation, with the financial support of The Nippon Foundation funded with proceeds from motorboat racing, was engaged in the International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP) for six years from 1993 jointly with two research bodies, The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) of Norway and the Central Marine Research and Design Institute (CNIIMF) of Russia, to inquire into the possibility of commercial navigation of the NSR 12 months a year.
