Image : Murmansk ship port in winter
It’s midnight in Murmansk, but the sun has not set. Nor will it again for several weeks. This is a polar day, and as the residents of Murmansk know all too well, there will be round-the-clock sunlight until September.
In the largest city in the world north of the Arctic Circle, the frigid temperatures expected at this latitude are tempered somewhat by the last whispers of the Gulf Stream. Still, a warm coat is a necessity throughout much of the year, and the weather remains unpredictable – it can snow in July and be sunny in January.
Come winter and Murmansk will experience a polar night lasting 40 days, where the sun will not rise above the horizon. On an overcast day near the winter solstice, residents will feel lucky to glimpse an hour or two of twilight at around one in the afternoon. But in this winter darkness, the northern lights glow over the snow-covered landscape, inspiring a litany of legends and tales.
Founded as Romanov-on-Murman in 1916, when Tsar Nicholas II sought an ice-free port, Murmansk is a relatively new city. For much of its early history, Murmansk played a crucial role as a supply port for convoys carrying war supplies during the First and Second World Wars. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Murmansk took a turn, and its economy began to crash. By 1997, Murmansk had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, with many choosing to leave the region to chase higher wages and better employment opportunities farther south.
At the turn of the century, the city fortunately began to recover – largely due to the development of Murmansk’s fishing industry. With its ice-free port making it Russia’s only harbour with unrestricted access to the Atlantic and world sea routes, Murmansk now serves as a very important fishing port.
Today, fishing is the beating heart of Murmansk, with the city boasting one of the largest fish-processing plants in Europe and a strong shipbuilding industry. But the jewel in the city’s crown is Norebo: an international fishing business that is both the biggest employer and the largest taxpayer in Murmansk. With over 3000 staff across the world, Norebo’s HQ in Murmansk has played an instrumental role in revitalising the city, placing the community at the heart of all it does.
Norebo has adopted gold-standard labour practices, operating on the same employment standards as merchant fleets. Priding itself on following internationally recognised safety standards, enforcing a strict 18+ policy on its vessels, and paying its staff considerably more than the national average, Norebo recognises and rewards the hard work of its employees.
To ensure the longevity of Murmansk’s fishing industry, Norebo also prides itself on its commitment to maintaining sustainable stocks and minimising its impact in the fishing process. To meet its environmental goals, Norebo has invested in state-of-the-art technology to maximise the efficiency of its catch and thereby minimise wasteful fishing practices. For instance, to resolve the issue of by-catch, Norebo has installed LED lighting that targets specific fish behaviours to programme fishing nets.
With three of its large fisheries certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard, Norebo ensures future generations will not miss out on Murmansk’s fishing industry.
Vitaly Orlov, founder and CEO of Norebo, explains: ‘Thinking back to myself as a young man, not much has changed. I’m still here in Murmansk, looking out to sea, hoping for calm seas and a strong catch. But I do know that because of our work and our investment in this industry, we’ll continue to have strong catches for many years to come’.
As a city that lives on the sea, Murmansk may have taken several more years to revive without the introduction of international fishing businesses like Norebo. But crucially, Murmansk’s growth has now become steady and sustainable, with its leading employer laying the foundations for prosperity for the years to come.
The winters in Murmansk may be long and dark, but growth is now on the horizon.
