Seafarers in the Arctic regions face a number of challenges related to climate, weather and limited infrastructure, and a vulnerable eco-system. Actors involved in activities such as oil drilling, sea farming, cruise tourism and cargo transport have to focus on safety and risk assessments. Both commercial actors and governments emphasize the importance of increasing emergency preparedness in order to prepare for unwanted incidents.

The Marpart Consortium consists of 13 universities and research institutes that focus on emergency management and crisis preparedness. The consortium is coordinated by Nord University in Bodø, Norway. The Marpart projects presently include two interlinked projects: Marpart 1 and Marpart (2)-MAN. The Marpart project portfolio is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nordland County Government and by the participating institutions.

The Marpart Project Consortium investigates the Arctic region’s overall preparedness resources, cooperation challenges, and the organization and management patterns of the broad range of emergency agencies present. Preparedness bodies must prepare for scenarios such as major oil spill response (OSR), fire on board (fi-fi), mass search and rescue operations (SAR) and violent actions (anti-terror). Such situations require support from a broad range of institutions, and may include resources from neighboring countries, so-called host nation support (HNS). The Marpart consortium investigates how joint operations are organized and coordinated in different parts of the emergency response chain. Project researchers look into tactical level on-scene coordination, operational level command systems, and strategic level management structures. The emergency preparedness system involves a number of players, such as the distress vessel Captain and crew, Samaritan vessels, On-Scene Coordinators (OSC), mission coordination centers, and task forces including police, paramedics, fire brigades, and coast guard. This mosaic of actors requires significant efforts of coordination and control.

The Marpart-consortium studies Arctic maritime activity patterns and the potential risks of maritime traffic in High North environments as a platform for understanding organization and management challenges related to maritime preparedness. Marpart also focuses on institutional aspects, including multilateral and bilateral agreements between Arctic countries within the field of maritime preparedness. Marpart’s research also focuses on managerial roles in the emergency response chain, as well as the preparedness management systems implemented by agencies, such as the Incident Command System (ICS).

Borch, Odd Jarl; Andreassen, Natalia; Marchenko, Nataliya; Ingimundarson, Valur; Gunnarsdóttir, Halla; Jakobsen, Uffe; Kern, Bolette; Iudin, Iurii; Petrov, Sergey; Markov, Sergey V; Kuznetsova, Svetlana (2016)
Maritime Activity and Risk Patterns in The High North. MARPART Project Report 2. Bodø: Nord Universitet 2016 (ISBN 978-82-7456-757-3) 124 s. Nord universitet / FoU-rapport(4) http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2432922
 
Borch, Odd Jarl; Andreassen, Natalia; Marchenko, Nataliya; Ingimundarson, Valur; Gunnarsdóttir, Halla; Iudin, Iurii; Petrov, Sergey; Jakobsen, Uffe; Dali, Birita I (2016)Maritime activity in the High North - current and estimated level up to 2025. MARPART Project Report 1. Bodø: Nord Universitet 2016 (ISBN 978-82-7456-756-6) 130 s. Nord universitet Utredning(7) http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2413456

Borch, Odd Jarl; Schmied, Johannes. 2016. MARPART-PROJECT CONSORTIUM MOBILIZES COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP ON MARITIME PREPAREDNESS IN THE HIGH NORTH. IASSA Northern Notes, Issue 46, p.41 http://iassa.org/images/newsletters/Northern-Notes-Issue-46-Autumn-Winter-2016.pdf .

Schmied, Johannes; Borch, Odd Jarl. 2016. THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VALUE CHAIN IN MASS SHOOTING INCIDENTS - an Arctic maritime perspective . Preparedness and Emergency Response Logistics Conference (PERL), 2016-11-02

Schmied, Johannes. 2016. Competence within emergency management – Host nation support challenges. Seminar with USCGA, 2016-06-22

Schmied, Johannes. 2016. Joint exercises - a useful tool for training and capacity building in maritime operations in the North. SARINOR seminar Bodø, 2016-06-08

Marchenko, Nataliya; Borch, Odd Jarl; Markov, Sergey V; Andreassen, Natalia. 2016. Maritime safety in the high north - Risk and preparedness, ISOPE - International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference. Proceedings 2016 ;Volum 2016-January.,pp. 1233-1240 http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2424682


Kheiri Pileh Roud, Ensieh; Borch, Odd Jarl; Jakobsen, Uffe; Marchenko, Nataliya. 2016. Maritime emergency management capabilities in the arctic. ISOPE - International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference. Proceedings 2016 ;Volum 2016-January. pp. 1241-1248 http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2425090

Nese T. & Dalsand R. (2016) Identification of Challenges and Hazards associated with Cruise Traffic and Evacuation in the Arctic. Master thesis in Technology and Safety in the High North. The Arctic University of Norway (UIT), Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Engineering and Safety, Tromsø. 

Kvamme B. O. (2016) Validation of heat transfer coefficients – Single pipes with different surface treatments and heated dek element. Master’s thesis at faculty of science and technology. University of Stavanger (UIS), Department of mechanical and structural engineering and materials science, Stavanger. 

Andreassen, N., Borch, O. J., Kuznetsova, S. & Markov, S. (2015). Emergency management in mass rescue operations. The case of the joint Norwegian-Russian rescue of MV Maxim Gorkiy. The ShipArc 2015 international conference. Malmø. http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2356452

Andreassen, N. (2015). Maritime activity, risks and international preparedness partnership in the High North – results from the MARPART project. Arctic patrol and reconnaissance conference. Oslo. http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2356449

Marchenko, N.A., Borch, O.J., Markov, S.V. & Andreassen, N. 2015. “Maritime Activity in the High North – the Range of Unwanted Incidents and Risk Patterns, conference paper, Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions”.

Marchenko N.A. 2015. “Ship Traffic in the Svalbard Area And Safety Issues. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions”.

Borch, O.J. & Andreassen, N. 2015. Joint-Task Force Management in Cross-Border Emergency Response. Managerial Roles and Structuring Mechanisms in High Complexity-High Volatility Environments., in Weintrit, A & Neumann, T. (Eds) “Information, Communication and Environment: Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation”, CRC Press 2015 ISBN 978-1-138-02857-9, pp. 217-224.  http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2359836

Andreassen, N., Borch, O.J., Kuznetsova, S. & Markov, S. (2015) Emergency management in maritime mass evacuation operations - the case of the high Arctic, paper presentation at the joint WMU-IMO-Arctic Council International Conference on Safe and Sustainble Shipping in a Changing Arctic Environment ShipArc-2015 conference, 25-27 August 2015, Malmø, Sweden. http://commons.wmu.se/shiparc/2015/allpresentations/36/

Ackrén, Maria & Jakobsen, Uffe (2015) Greenland as a self-governing sub-national territory in international relations: past, current and future perspectives, Polar Record, Vol.51, Iss. 04, pp.404-412. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9821257&fileId=S003224741400028X

Jacobsen, Uffe (2015) Climate Change and Risk Management Challenges in the Arctic, paper presentation at the European Consortium for Political Research ECPR General Conference, Université de Montréal, 26-29 August 2015. http://ecpr.eu/Events/PaperDetails.aspx?PaperID=25484&EventID=94

Barland, Bjørn (2015) “Fighting” criminality in The High North – possibilities and limitations, Poster at the 15th Annual Conference of the ESC, porto, 2-5 September, 2015.               

Jacobsen, Uffe (2015) Climate change risks, human security and governance in the Arctic, presentation at the China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium CNARC, Shanghai, China, 26-28th May 2015. http://www.cnarc.info/images/dl_files/Agenda-3rd-CNARC-Symposium.pdf

7th MARPART Conference “Competence Development within Maritime Preparedness in The High North

The 5th MARPART-conference at the Hurtigruten Coastal Cruiser "MV Polarlys"

Maritime emergency management & transnational cooperation in the High North

Workshop om finansiering av forsknings og innovasjonsprosjekter innenfor Horizon 2020

The SEBS-MARPART conference

The Arctic Logistics conference

MatchPoint seminar on SAR and OSR in Aarhus in November

Arctic Frontier 2016 had the deadline 21 September

7th MARPART Conference “Competence Development within Maritime Preparedness in The High North
 

Reykjavik Conference
The Marpart project, together with the EDDA Center of Excellence at the University of Iceland, recently hosted a conference in Reykjavik. The focus was on cross-institutional and transnational cooperation. It is a pivotal point for us that Norway, Russia, Iceland and Denmark/Greenland can combine resources, and work together to meet future challenges in the Arctic environment.
There were many issues discussed at this third Marpart conference in Reykjavik. The Marpart conference has earlier been arranged in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, and the next one will take place in Bodo, Norway.

MARPART2-MAN has been launched!
The first Kick off meeting in the MARPART2-MAN project has taken place. In the fall of 2015 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nordland County Administration granted an additional six million NOK for the Marpart project carrying the title: Joint task force management in High North Emergency response (MARPART2-MAN).
The project is expected to conclude in December of 2017, and participants include The Norwegian Police University College, World Maritime University, University Center in Svalbard, Murmansk State Technical University, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, Norwegian Fire Protection Institute, The Royal Norwegian Naval Academy Navigation Center and the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment.
The purpose of the Marpart – 2 Man project is to contribute to more competent host-nation relief support and efficient cross-border cooperation through knowledge transfer in and between competence institutions, and between these institutions and the preparedness system. The project shall also contribute to a tailor-made education and to more goal-oriented and cost-efficient training and exercise schemes.

The main purpose of the Marpart 1 project is to assess the risk of the increased maritime activity in the High North and the challenges this activity may cause for the preparedness institutions in the region. Marpart 1 focuses on cross-institutional and cross-country partnerships between emergency institutions and companies. Marpart conducts research on the management of joint operations, including so called host-nation support, which involves the mobilization of resources from several countries.

Marpart 1 highlights the responsibility of the Arctic state governments when it comes to preparedness related to safety, security and environmental protection in the High North. Marpart 1 documents the need for capabilities for adequate response to composite challenges including search and rescue (SAR), oil spill recovery, firefighting and salvage, and acts of terror or other forms of destructive action. The focus is on managerial tools for coordination and control to make optimal use of the resources from several institutions and countries.

Marpart 1 project goals:
Increase understanding of future tasks and the demands for a preparedness system in the High North related to search and rescue, oil spill response, firefighting and salvage, and actions against terror or other forms of destructive action.
Provide analytical concepts for studying coordination challenges in cross-border, multi-tasking operations.
Contribute with organizational concepts, which can be applied to inter-organizational partnership and the management of joint operations.

Resources and Competence Center for Safety and Preparedness in the Northern Region – RKSN (Norway)

Norwegian Coastal Administration (Norway), Department for Emergency Response.

High North Center at Nord University Business School

Salten Region Police Department (Norway)

Maritim Forum Nord North Norway (Norway)

Joint Rescue Coordination Center, North Norway (Norway)

Nordland County

The Norwegian Police Directorate liaison to the Norwegian Defense, Joint Operative Headquarter (Norway)

Salten Fire and Rescue Department (Norway)

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection – DSB (Norway)

The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority

The Norwegian Coast Guard


Barents Euro Arctic Council Joint Working Group on Education and Research

AECO – Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators

Project Marpart-2 (MAN): This project focuses on emergency management competence and the development of tailor-made programs for education and training of key personnel involved in emergency operations. We elaborate on the need for knowledge transfer of best practice and the development of management standards for a transparent response to severe accidents.
In this project, we take as a starting point the findings of the Marpart (1) -project. Experiences from real emergencies and exercises are analyzed to reveal the needs for competences for co-ordination and overall governance of emergency resources. There is a demand for knowledge transfer, education and training programs for key personnel working in joint operations, both at sea, within companies, in the voluntary organizations, the local and national government and the preparedness agencies.
We focus our research on competence and emergency management capabilities needed at operational and tactical command levels in cross-border high-risk operations. The four target groups of this project are:
(1) Private companies and government institutions responsible for preparedness in the High North;
(2) Academic and professional educational institutions, including universities, academies of Police, Fire brigade, Military forces and medic education;
(3) Competence institutions responsible for cross-institutional and cross-border training and exercises; and
(4) Operational institutions within the preparedness system with special forces and/or coordination authorities in the High North.

Marpart-2 (MAN) project goals:

• To facilitate knowledge transfer between the educational system, government institutions and emergency key personnel dealing with cross-border high-crisis situations.
• To contribute to more tailor-made task force education and to more goal-oriented and cost-efficient training and exercise schemes.
• To contribute to more competent host-nation emergency support and efficient cross-border operations through knowledge transfer in and between competence institutions.

Resources and Competence Center for Safety and Preparedness in the Northern Region – RKSN (Norway)

Norwegian Coastal Administration (Norway), Department for Emergency Response.

High North Center at Nord University Business School

Salten Region Police Department (Norway)

Maritim Forum Nord North Norway (Norway)

Joint Rescue Coordination Center, North Norway (Norway)

Nordland County

The Norwegian Police Directorate liaison to the Norwegian Defense, Joint Operative Headquarter (Norway)

Salten Fire and Rescue Department (Norway)

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection – DSB (Norway)

The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority

The Norwegian Coast Guard

Barents Euro Arctic Council Joint Working Group on Education and Research

AECO – Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators

"Inter-organizational coordination of mass rescue operations in complex environments” (MAREC) 

PROJECT PERIOD: January 2018 – December 2020.

The MAREC project is focusing on inter-organizational coordination of mass rescue operations in complex environments. The project aims at improving the knowledge on the emergency preparedness policy framework and the coordinative roles and mechanisms of the rescue services. The project addresses inter-organizational and inter-jurisdictional coordination of large scale crisis situations including several emergency agencies and several countries.

The empirical setting of this study will be mass rescue operations both at sea and land, where a broad range of emergency response actors, including volunteers are involved. Theoretically, we build upon and contribute to the management theory, emphasizing generic managerial roles and coordination processes, organizational theory on structuring mechanisms, and institutional theory in targeting environments where a large number of stakeholders are involved.

There are four work packages (WP) which are described under “Project Structure”.

Operational logistics and business process management in High Arctic oil and gas operations (Oplog)

The Oplog project studies the offshore oil and gas supply chain and the relations between offshore service vessel companies and the petroleum companies operating oil and gas fields in the Arctic regions. There is a need for increased knowledge on operational concepts suited for Arctic conditions. The Oplog-project analyzes innovative business process management concepts in offshore logistics operations, particularly the organizational configuration of the shipping services that support platforms or other floating units located in Arctic waters.
The Oplog project also studies the interface between the ship-owners operational management, the offshore vessels taking part in in a logistics operation and the oil company responsible for the offshore logistics.

Main objective:
The main objective of the Oplog-project is to increase understanding of the relations between the operational context, offshore logistics systems and the management of the business processes included in an offshore supply chain.

Sub-goals:

• Map operational logistics challenges and demands for the offshore supply vessel (OSV) fleet in Arctic waters compared with the North Sea.
• Shed light on business models and specific business processes of shipping firms in different contexts, with emphasis on innovation.
• Increase knowledge about the operational management of interaction between vessels, platforms, supply base and field coordinators at oil companies