In the months and years to come, it is unclear how financial and administrative responsibilities will be divided among the eastern and western MOH and the Administration of the Northern Sea Route.
4.3.2 Procedure for requesting permission to navigate the NSR
Placement and handling of navigation requests
At least four months prior to an intended voyage on the NSR shipowners must submit a notification and request for guiding to the MOH. Once these documents have been considered, the submitter will be informed of the possibility of navigation and leading and other circumstances to be taken into account. Shipowners and masters cannot simply decide whether to cross the NSR of their own accord. In emergency cases, a request may be submitted only one month in advance, although additional tariffs apply. The following should be included in the request:
* Name of vessel, flag, owner and full address of owner
* Gross and net registered tonnage
* Total displacement
* Vessel's principal dimensions, engine output, draft, speed and year of construction
* Ice-strengthening category (ice class), classification society, date of last attesting
* List of deviations from the requirements to the design, equipment and supply of vessels navigating the NSR
* Approximate date of the voyage
* Certification of liability insurance for any damage inflicted by possible pollution of the NSR
* Purpose of the voyage (cargo transport, tourism, scientific research)
Ship inspection
Within 10 days after acceptance of the request, the Administration of the Northern Sea Route notifies the submitter of its decision concerning the request. If necessary, the Administration orders an inspection of the vessel by the Administration Representatives, in order to grant permission to be guided through the NSR. The inspection, if required, is done at the expense of the owner and can be carried out at the port of Murmansk, Nakhodka or Provideniya, or at another port convenient to the owner. Control inspection of any vessel may be performed while she navigates the NSR. If a ship does not completely satisfy the requirements, she may be allowed to traverse the NSR with icebreaker or other special support provided at additional expense. Guiding of floating docks, drilling platforms, floating piers and their floating structures is permitted through the seaways of the NSR. Guiding of such items is carried out with additional Administration support, provided at additional expense.
4.3.3 Technical requirements for ships
Technical requirements for ships passing through the NSR are provided in "Requirements for the Design, Equipment and Supply of Vessels Navigating the Northern Sea Route," a section included in the "Guide to Navigating through the NSR" mentioned above. The major requirements listed in this volume are summarized below.
General provisions
* Ships navigating the NSR must satisfy the applicable Rules of the Russian Federation Registry for vessels containing the following literal designations of ice resistance categories as part of the symbol of their class: L1, UL, or ULA, or the literal designations of the equivalent ice categories used by other classifying organizations, and must also satisfy the requirements of applicable international conventions and the Code of the International Maritime Organization.
