Transport logistics which is actively developing at present as is one of important strategies for Murmansk Region certainly influences the regional development on the whole.

At this it requires changes relevant to the emergent and increasing needs in this sphere. The volumes of cargo are constantly growing and many ports in the South of Finland, St. Petersburg port and roads of the same territory become more and more busy. Up to the present moment there was used the traditional route for carrying cargoes from St. Petersburg via Kandalaksha to Murmansk.

Development of an alternative route is the main objective of Logistics Development in the Barents Transport Corridor project (BTC). This project is financed by the European Union in the framework of Kolarctic Neighborhood Programme and provides for the development of a rout from Kemi port to Murmansk via Salla. This project was initiated by the Finnish side and united many partners from both Finland and Russia. These are Meri-Lappi Institute, Kemi port, logistics company Bothnia Logistic Centre Ltd. Oy and others. The Russian partners are Murmansk State Technical University, Kola Association of Carriers, non-commercial partnership S+ and the Industry Department of Murmansk Region.

Building of logistic network and its presentation as of a product that is easy to offer, buy and compare to alternative routes is the main project objective.

In order to achieve this aim it is planned to carry out several researches, seminars and other events for all participants of logistics market: transportation companies, cargo owners, road users and population. The project plan includes data collection in logistics, infrastructure and investments in the Barents Region and its presentation on a web-site (www.barents-transport.fi).

The project activities started in 2006 and at present moment one can speak of first results of its implementation. In November 2006 the first pilot container transportation took place in this route. The conditions of the experiment suggested picking up forty feet contained which arrived from Hamburg in Kemi port and delivering it to Murmansk. On 9 November a Volvo vehicle left Murmansk, on 10 November the driver arrived to Kemi and loaded the container. And on 11 November the cargo was successfully delivered to Murmansk. The vehicle equipment included special satellite device which allowed monitoring the way of the cargo in minutes and kilometers. All the stages of the way one could monitor online on the Internet. In accordance with the preliminary results the length of the route decreased in two times.

The project partners believe that the implementation of the planned activities will allow developing and enabling an additional route relevant to growth of transportation volumes in the region and will contribute to further development of border cooperation on the whole.

THE "INDUSTRIAL NORTH" #2