Legal aspects of cooperation in shipping and logistics in the Arctic

The focus of this research lies in creating a uniform approach to the legal framework supporting logistics of the vessels carrying out commercial navigation in the polar waters. With commercial navigation in the polar waters having gained popularity recently, a number of specialized publications dedicated to development of Arctic shipping and to the perspectives of the Northern Sea Route's commercial use have emerged. Regardless of the vessel route, formalities in any port remain inevitable step of the international cargo transportation. The projected intensive commercial shipping in the Arctic waters will raise the issue as to which system for monitoring compliance with Convention requirements and mechanisms aimed at reducing the likelihood of accidents in polar waters is the most adapted. Against such background, the article represents legal measures intended to ensure safety of commercial navigation in polar waters and singles out the need to create an Arctic Memorandum of Understanding on State Port Control, preventing ships that do not meet generally accepted standards and rules to navigate the Arctic waters.