Ilisimatusarfik is a partner in the MARPART research project together with eight other universities and research institutions in Iceland, Norway and Russia. The main purpose of the project is to assess the risk of the increased maritime activity in the Arctic and the challenges that this increase may represent for the emergency prevention, preparedness and response institutions. To increase both effectiveness and efficiency within the preparedness system, management tools for coordination and control to make optimal use of joint resources of institutions both within and between countries are needed.

The starting point of the project is the increased maritime activity in Arctic waters and the vulnerability related to human safety, environment and vessels or other physical installations at sea. The activities in focus are intraregional and interregional transportation, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and mineral resources, fisheries and cruise tourism. The challenges in the Arctic for maritime operations are limited infrastructure, low temperatures with ice and icing and a vulnerable nature.

The project has three main goals: 1) to increase the understanding of future tasks and demands for a preparedness system including search and rescue and oil spill response, 2) to provide concepts for studying coordination challenges in cross-border operations, and 3) to contribute with organizational concepts for trans-organisational and trans-border partnership.

The project is divided into three work packages: 1) Future maritime activity level and risk patterns in the Arctic, 2) Institutional framework, governance resources and institutional strategies within difference sea regions in the Arctic, and 3) organisations and operational management structures linking cooperation institutions in joint maritime operations.

The project partners comprise High North Center at Bodø Graduate School of Business at Nord University (Norway), Norwegian Defense University College (Norway), Norwegian Police University College (Norway), Arctic University of Norway, University of Tromsø (Norway), University Center in Svalbard (Norway), Northern (Arctic) Federal University (Russia), Murmansk State Technical University (Russia), University of Iceland and Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland.

Contact information: Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland is represented by Uffe Jakobsen.

For more information, go to: www.marpart.no.