Northern Sea Route Freight Operations: Survey of Logistic Modelling

(By Sverre Inge Heimdal, Tor Wergeland ; INSROP Working Paper No. 27 – 1995, III.06.1)

The report discusses logistic modelling related to the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Important logistic elements for cargo owners assessing alternative transportation systems are described briefly and are followed by a description of alternative perspectives on logistic modelling depending on who is the decision maker and the time horizon for the analysis.

Alternative regimes of strategic logistic modelling are described in short:

• Preference studies
• Simulation
• Network optimisation
• Socio economic planning tools

The report suggests that if there should be any activity on logistic modelling, simulation of NSR operations will probably be most relevant since other methodological perspectives require data on cargo flows and market potentials compared to other transport alternatives which are regarded as not available.

The next step could be to initiate two or three case studies for factories or potential export facilities within the influence area of the NSR. The studies should go into all necessary details which are necessary to identify the most efficient logistic systems for each unit. Similar studies have been done for Norwegian companies within a short sea shipping perspective and have produced important knowledge and interesting results.

Sverre Inge Heimdal, Tor Wergeland, 1995, Northern Sea Route Freight Operations: Survey of Logistic Modelling, INSROP.©