Russia fixated on the Arctic Northern Sea Route

Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) June 11, 2024 – There has been a flurry of announcements about Russia’s Arctic Northern Sea Route (NSR), indicating the urgency attached to this alternative transport route. Moscow sees the NSR as an alternative to traditional sea corridors via the Baltic and the Black Seas, & the Suez Canal, especially in view of the West sanctions-driven redirection of its trade towards Asia. The total capacity of seaports in the waters of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) by 2030 should increase 2.7 times compared to 2024 and reach 127.5 million tonnes per year, Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt said. He added that the cargo transported along the NSR should quadruple and reach 150 million tonnes in 2030. Starovoyt mentioned that the NSR allows cargo to be transported without passing through the Baltic or Black Sea straits, which could be blocked in the event of an escalation of tensions with NATO countries. The NSR is also promoted by Moscow as important for international shipping due to the crisis in the Red Sea, the growing risks of piracy along the coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, and military risks in the Taiwan Strait. A sample of recent Ports Europe NSR coverage DP World wants Russia’s Arctic Northern Sea Route Arkhangelsk port as China’s cargo transport hub Global Ports, Leningrad Region plan Ust-Luga expansion Russia’s strategic Korsakov port to be privatised Delo Group asked to build deep-water port in Arkhangelsk Russia plans a new Arctic deep-water port NSR developments and cargo [wpgmza id="47"] The bombastic figures do not match the current reality. Total cargo transportation along the NSR in 2023 was 36.25 million tonnes. Vladimir Panov, special representative for Arctic development of the state corporation Rosatom and deputy chairman of the state commission for Arctic development went even further and said that the cargo volume along the NSR could increase 6.8 times by 2035 compared to 2024 and exceed 250 million tonnes. Already in August 2022, the Russian government approved a development plan for the NSR according to which the annual cargo flow along the NSR should be 150 million tonnes in 2030, and 220 million tonnes in 2035. Both figures are unrealistic unless China’s companies take over the NSR. China is keen to "work with Moscow" in developing the route. Russian giant state owned Rosatom company even proposed the concept of the “Great Northern Sea Route,” which would also cover ports that are entry and exit points to the NSR, such as St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok. Starovoyt gave the following forecast (in million tonnes) for the NSR Year2024202520262027202820292030Cargo transported36.856809397117150Ports capacity 47.548.672.184.686.6100.5127.5 Northern Sea Route NSR is a 5,600 km long shipping route, defined by Russian legislation as running from the Karskaza Door to Novaya Zemlya straits in the west, along the Russian Arctic coast above Siberia through the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, and Chukchi Sea, to Cape Zhelaniya on the Bering Strait. Cargo traffic on Russia’s Northern Sea Route increases in 2023 The entire route lies in Arctic waters and within Russia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is included in what has been called the Northeast Passage. The NSR does not include the Barents Sea, and therefore does not reach the Atlantic. Russia’s Northern Sea Route only for Russia The NSR currently serves the Arctic ports and the major rivers of Siberia by importing fuel, equipment, food, and exporting timber and minerals. Some parts of the route are ice-free for only two months per year, but melting Arctic ice caps are likely to increase traffic and the commercial viability of the NSR. Reference – Russia’s Arctic and Far East ports projects For example, the distance from Murmansk (Russia) to Yokohama (Japan) through the Suez Canal is 12,840 nautical miles, but only 5,770 nautical miles through the NSR. For the corporate players in bulk shipping of relatively low-value raw materials, cost savings for fuel are a crucial driver to explore the NSR for commercial transits, more than delivery time, or environmental concerns. More Ports Europe news about the NSR More Ports Europe news about Russia Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2024.

Russia fixated on the Arctic Northern Sea Route

All news

Hassan Allam Construction to build Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal

Turkey: Cruises and passengers arrived at ports, January-Nov 2024

Turkey: Seaports – Cargo handled – January-November 2024

Turkey: Seaports cargo traffic – Jan-Nov 2024

Port of Constanta sees reduced handling of Ukrainian grain, Jan-Nov 24

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports

Russia fixated on the Arctic Northern Sea Route

Share this news:

All news

Hassan Allam Construction to build Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal

Turkey: Cruises and passengers arrived at ports, January-Nov 2024

Turkey: Seaports – Cargo handled – January-November 2024

Turkey: Seaports cargo traffic – Jan-Nov 2024

Port of Constanta sees reduced handling of Ukrainian grain, Jan-Nov 24

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports