All Arctic States - parties to the international maritime legal regime, adopted the international maritime legal framework on the national level. Globally applied rules and standards created the possibility for the Arctic national actors to obtain those regulations in the home rule standards.
Governments of Canada and Russia have chosen to impose the ruling standards for the Arctic shipping, based on article 234 of United Nation Convention of Law of the Sea, including special shipping requirements for the Arctic waters.
The Canadian maritime administration is governed by Transport Canada, cooperating with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans.
The Transport Canada is responsible implementing safety and security regulations, pollution prevention and administration of the Canadian ports.
Basic regulations of the maritime Canadian legal system can be found in the Arctic Shipping Library.
Russian federation adopted first Arctic marine regulations when the opening the Northern Sea Route for the international traffic became the possibility.
Current national Russian marine legal system is still based on, implemented by Gorbachev, Soviet laws from early 90s. Russian maritime legal framework consists of: the 1996 Guide to Navigation, the 1996 Regulations Concerning Icebreaking and Pilot Guidance and the 1996 Requirements Relating to the Design, Equipment and Supply of Ships. Documents are available for the public in their original version on Russian Ministries of Transport website.
