Further, the results will give input and guidance and provide important background information for future directions in research and developments of arctic shipping, shipbuilding, transport and ice technologies. They also support optimisation of related logistics as well as administrative, classification, environment protection and safety issues. This was possible by the joint efforts and excellent co-operation of scientists, engineers, ship crews and other professionals from different nations assigned in a well balanced mix of representatives from scientific institutes, companies and governmental authorities. These include in particular of optimised construction and operation of ice resistant cargo vessels assisted by ice breaking vessels and their safe and reliable all year round navigation. Safe loading and transportation technologies of raw materials in Arctic conditions are another important topic.
Special attention is dedicated to protection of the marine environment.
The results of the voyage will also be used to define future necessities in research and development. In the future sea transport and marine operations in the arctic regions will become more and more important for utilisation of the rich natural resources of Russia's northern regions. In these wide areas possibilities for land transportation are limited and may cause significant damage to the sensitive and unique arctic environment and are in the overall more costly. In addition the northern sea route is a very short east-west passage due to the convergence of meridians. One degree difference in longitude along the northern sea route is only approximately one quarter of the distance at the equator and less than half the distance as in Central Europe.