ABSTRACT
Risk aspects should be highlighted according to different types of commercial and governmental activity, including risk related to military activity and the new players in the region. Treaties and agreements, regulations, and standard operational procedures are established and revised as a continuous process of institutionalization. The institutions are developed through political processes both within the nation states, bilaterally and through international fora such as the Arctic Council and International Maritime Organization (IMO). The implications for rules and regulations to routes and the coverage of search and rescue (SAR) capacities in different countries should be highlighted. Access to critical data is needed for navigation safety and for research within risk aspects in the Arctic. A lack of information is the key contributor to the unpredictability of the Arctic. Operational risk is a central question for all operators and governments in the most challenging environments.
