Север и рынок. 2021, № 1.

2. Analysis of Arctic Operations Arctic operations are very challenging. Winds can topple equipment, currents can derail prospective shipping routes, waves can topple and flood equipment and climate factors can alter projections o f delivery and maintenance. Furthermore, the harsh climate o f the Arctic makes maintenance critical for safe operation [3]. Ecological Aspect. Migration o f marine animals and their natural activities such as feeding and mating can cause interference with operations due to the relatively small amount o f species that are adapted to particular Arctic conditions and owing to the lack of information we have about their habits it is important to avoid interference with ecological processes, particularly with those that relate to keystone species such as whales and Polar bears [2]. Accidents in the arctic can have catastrophic consequences that can affect renewable resources such as Fisheries. Fisheries represent 20 to 30 % o f the income o f the Arctic. The increased transit will also increase pollution and may increase the riskof transportation o f invasive species with ballast water [5]. Economic, Social and Cultural characteristics o f the Arctic. The economy o f the Arctic zones is dependent on the extraction o f minerals: oil, gas and fisheries. While nonrenewable resources offer high rents, they also require extensive infrastructure and pose high risks to the ecology and renewable resources o f the Arctic [6]. Native populations are heavily dependent on a small pool o f renewable resources, not only economically, but also culturally and spiritually, and these populations should be safeguarded [18]. The development o f the North Passage will require a higher investment in infrastructure, but projections suggest that this can double transportation and translate to $52 billion in profits [11]. These profits can lead to higher employment for both local populations and migrant workers. Increased economic activity will increase pressure on infrastructure, for example ports in low population density artic regions in Canada and the US. Russia has several functioning ports along these routes however some need to be updated [12]. 3. Methods and Resources The issues of theoretical justification and methods o f risk reduction in the development o f Arctic oil and gas resources were considered on the basis o f materials from state research sources, the Arctic Council, universities, corporate sources and academic materials. Since research on Arctic themes is in the early stages o f development, some non-Arctic sources are used by proxy to create a more detailed model. One o f the most important sources of this research was produced by the Arctic Council in 2009. The Arctic Council Document includes descriptions o f Arctic conditions and its social, cultural, government, ecological, and economic dimensions [14]. The Arctic Council Document represents the most thorough study into the factors driving the transformation o f the Arctic through the opening o f northern routes for trade and commerce. The Arctic Council Document has been used together with updated sources that better describe current conditions. This article emphasizes cultural and social aspects o f the newly opened trade routes and the need to support local communities through this transition. The paper titled “The potential economic viability o f using the Northern Route” explains the real advantages o f the route while mentioning many o f the structural problems that might present challenges and can reduce profitability; it highlights the climatic and ecological difficulties and the restraints o f the infrastructure and of governance issues [10]. The paper uses different scenarios to quantify some abstract variables and presents Russian as well as North American cases to better illustrate the complications that might occur when estimating economic value. The article “Commercial Arctic shipping through the Northeast Passage: routes, resources, governance, technology, and infrastructure” published by the Journal o f Polar Science presents a deep evaluation o f the factors influencing the development o f the Artic shipping routes and their significance to worldwide markets [2]. This article carefully enumerates the many challenges surrounding Arctic shipping, such as infrastructure, geological conditions and concerns, uncertain ice cover and poorly mapped depth on likely routes and demonstrates the need for careful monitoring near the shelf o f Russia. This article also clarifies issues o f governance that might further complicate logistics along the Northern route, such as political differences in method for managing the route between the US and Russia, the need for standards to facilitate international cooperation, and the implications o f growing Asian markets [8]. The book “Remote Sensing o f Sea Ice in the Northern Sea Route: Studies and Applications” provides a comprehensive review o f the history o f the Northern Sea Routes and o f Arctic commercial operations over time, in particular o f the development o f Arctic ports and infrastructure. It also provides a review o f natural 5