ArticlePDF Available

Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035

Authors:
Alexandra Middleton
Alexandra Middleton
Alexandra Middleton
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation
Content uploaded by Alexandra Middleton
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Alexandra Middleton on May 15, 2020
Content may be subject to copyright.
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 1/6
HOME › ANALYSIS
Northern Sea Route: From
Speculations to Reality by 2035
The document appears to be a roadmap full of solutions yet to be realized. However, there is no denying the determination of the Russian state
to invest in the NSR and make it a safe and attractive international shipping route in the future, writes Alexandra Middleton.
The Northern Sea Route received its share of bad
publicity in 2019 when it became a target of big
logistics companies and brands that publicly
declared their intentions not to use it.
FROM
ALEXANDRA MIDDLETON
POPULAR LATEST
Wants to Lift Quarantine in
Svalbard: “No Point in
Waiting”
May 08 2020 - 10:12
An Arctic Prison
May 08 2020 - 11:56
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 2/6
MOL’s Vladimir Rusanov Arc7 LNG
carrier on its way to Yamal LNG.
(Source: Courtesy of MOL)
In the last days of December 2019, Russia in its turn published a most comprehensive
plan for infrastructure development of the Northern Sea Route for the period 2020-2035.
Russia plans to increase traffic along the NSR by 90 mln tons by 2030.
While the role of NSR in Russian internal shipping is immense, especially due to LNG
transport from Yamal LNG project, the viability of commercial use of the NSR for
international transit shipping has been long questioned both by research and practitioner
communities.
ALSO READ
The plan covers 11 topics for development along the NSR
01. Port infrastructure and terminals
02. Search and Rescue (SAR)
03. Navigational and hydrographic support
04. Development of Ice-breaking capabilities
05. Stimulation of cargo traffic and international transit shipment increase
06. Avia and railway network development
07. Safety and communications network development
08. Electricity generating capacity to support infrastructure
09. Training and skills development
010. Domestic shipbuilding for the Arctic shipping
011. Ecological safety
Altogether, the plan consists of 84 measures, each of them having a responsible Ministry
or other body assigned and strict deadlines.
Let’s look at how the plan promises to make NSR competitive.
The port of Pevek will be reconstructed by 2020
and the reconstruction of the seaport of Sabetta
will be completed by 2021. After completion of the
work, Sabetta port will be able to accept cargo
throughout the year.
Minimizing danger at sea
Search and Rescue (SAR) covers a total of 19
individual measures. By the end of 2020, the full
analysis of legal framework related to people SAR, response systems in case of oil spill
will be completed. Construction of rescue coordination centers is expected to be co-
financed by extracting companies in the Arctic.
Nike and
Ocean
Conservancy
Call On
Companies to
Join Pledge
Against Arctic
Shipping
Stay on top, click here for our weekly
newsletter:
SUBSCRIBE
“This is not just about
business in Svalbard; this is
also about Norwegian
sovereignty.”
May 12 2020 - 11:15
Eirik J. Kristoffersen New
Chief of Defense in Norway
May 12 2020 - 15:09
NEWSLETTER
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 3/6
Location of Yamal LNG and Arctic
LNG 2 and shipping route along the
NSR. (Illustration from the article
author.)
According to the document, the Arctic extracting companies shall be involved in
preparing proposals for rescue coordinating center constructions in Pevek and Sabetta
ports by 2020 and in Dixon and Tiksi by 2022. Furthermore, by the end of 2020, an
evaluation of the need to create a state company responsible for the deepening of the
seabed along the NSR will be available. Altogether, 11 new SAR vessels serving various
purposes are expected to be constructed and in operation by 2024.
Along with increased emphasis on SAR, there is attention to navigational and
hydrographic support, which includes modernizing three existing vessels and having 13
new navigational and hydrographic vessels built by 2022-2023. Icebreaking capabilities
will be strengthened by introducing five new class icebreakers from 2022-2024 and
additional three super powerful Lider class icebreakers scheduled to be ready by 2027,
2030 and 2032.
Boosting international shipping
To attract international shipping, a series of measures have been proposed. The ports of
Murmansk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have the potential to become logistical hubs
for servicing international transit cargo, and the viability of the proposal will be ready by
2020. The creation of a Russian containership operator using ice-class vessels can
become an answer to the current uncertainty. Finally, an evaluation of possible state
subsidies to support the international competitiveness of NSR will be available by 2021.
Creation of digital systems for logistics along the NSR further promises to boost
competitiveness.
Plans to expand the NSR network include linking
it to existing and new railroad networks and
construction of new airports.
Providing predicting and
communication capabilities
Currently, the lack of reliable communications on
the NSR is of high concern. The plan covers
creating stable and continuous satellite
communication for users of NSR by launching
four geostationary satellites by 2024. The launch
of six space modules by 2024 will secure a high-
speed automatic identification system (AIS) on the NSR.
The density of meteorological stations is expected to increase to provide more precise
weather forecasting, moreover, and by 2025 the hydrometeorological data would be
available via GEO satellites. Safety is addressed by measures to improve the forecasting
of ice conditions. Moreover, year-round shipping along NSR would require the creation of
a unifying single operational control center, which is expected to be launched by 2021.
Port infrastructure development will require electricity generating capacity, the evaluation
plan will include LNG-based solutions. The need for more skilled people and their
training, including medical staff is considered in the plan. National shipbuilding
stimulating measures include amongst others construction of containerships for the NSR.
As for ecological measures, the plan states that there will be mandatory application of
the best available technologies aimed at pollution reduction in the seas.
So far, the budget of the Russian Federation for 2020-2022 has funds of RUB 2.9 bn
(EUR 42 mill.) allocated to support navigational and hydrographic works on the Northern
Sea Route. The whole budget for the full plan realization will only appear in the future.
What is already clear, is that the plan is ambitious and capital-intensive since it tries to
address many problems linked to NSR.
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 4/6
Roadmap full of possible solutions
The document is read as a response to all accumulated criticism and uncertainty related
to the NSR, especially in the areas of SAR, navigational safety, communications, ecology
and prediction of weather and ice conditions.
The economic aspect deserves special consideration. At this stage, the document
proposes possible solutions especially targeted at international shipping. If you are not
happy about the depth of the straits along the NSR, they will be made deeper. If your
vessel is too big, no problem; Lider icebreaker will make an ice corridor of 50 meters
width to fit even big vessels. If the price is of concern, no worries - the state will
compensate for the price difference. If you don’t have an ice-class vessel, use a logistic
hub in Murmansk or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. In the future, you can even deal with a
state containership company for smooth logistics solutions along the NSR.
The document appears to be a roadmap full of solutions yet to be realized. However,
there is no denying the determination of the Russian state to invest in the NSR and make
it a safe and attractive international shipping route in the future.
Alexandra Middleton is the author of the book chapter “Maritime Transportation along the
Northern Sea Route” by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) forthcoming in
2020
TAGS
Northern Sea Route transportation Arctic LNG shipping
SHARE
  
The document appears to be a
roadmap full of solutions yet to be
realized.
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 5/6
Sponsored
DroneX Pro
MUAMA Enence Instant Translator Device
Fast Phrases
Singles50 Finland
WorldHistoryMag.com
U.S Green Card - Free check
Futuristinen drone valloittaa Suomen
Language Learning Is Hard? Maybe, but why you do need to learn it if you can communicate in
languages with this device instantly!
Hän löysi sattumalta menetelmän, jonka avulla hän oppii sanoja vaivatta.
Eronnut? Paras treffisivusto yli 40-vuotiaille suomalaisille miehille
57 Vintage Photos That Took It Way Too Far
Check if you are eligible for a U.S Green Card
0 Comments www.highnorthnews.com 🔒 Disqus' Privacy Policy
tTweet fShare Sort
LOG IN WITH OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS
Name
Start the discussion…
?
Be the first to comment.
Subscribe
✉Add Disqus to your siteAdd DisqusAdd
dDo Not Sell My Data⚠
Recommend
ABOUT US
High North News is an independent newspaper published by the High North Center at the
Nord university. High North News follows the Norwegian Press Code of Ethics and is edited
according to the Association of Norwegian Editors – Rights and Duties of the Editor. High
North News is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed on external web
pages.
POSTADRESSE:
High North News
Nord universitet
Postboks 1490
8049 Bodø
Norway
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
Arne O. Holm
E-MAIL:
arne.o.holm@nord.no
TELEPHONE:
(+ 47) 905 29472
E-MAIL EDITORIAL
STAFF:
hinn@nord.no
Copyright © 2018
High North News. All
5/14/2020 Northern Sea Route: From Speculations to Reality by 2035
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/northern-sea-route-speculations-reality-2035 6/6
Rights Reserved. Developed by: Ramsalt
... Russia is investing in its icebreaker capabilities adding three new icebreakers by 2022 to four existing ones. Furthermore, two new Lieder-type icebreakers are expected to be built by 2027 [23]. ...
... The challenges of shipping along the NSR include political climate (NSR as part of Russian territorial waters), environmental concerns, operational conditions (weather, predictability), capital expenditure (ice-class vessels and icebreaker charges), contractual issues and uncertainty of ice-free seasons [93]. In 2019, Russia published a most comprehensive plan for infrastructure development of the NSR for the period 2020-35 that aims to make maritime transportation along the NSR internationally competitive [23,33]. As specified in the Arctic Council's 2011 agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic (2011) [30], the Russian Federation is responsible for SAR along the NSR. ...
... The plan proposes the construction of rescue coordinating centers in ports Pevek and Sabetta by 2020 and in Tiksi by 2022. Altogether, 11 new SAR vessels serving various purposes are expected to be constructed and in operation by 2024 [23,33]. ...
Maritime transportation along the Northern Sea Route
Chapter
  • Jul 2021
This chapter provides a comprehensive review of shipping activity along the NSR by type of shipping and type of cargo, including container shipping. Additionally, a case study of how global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is affecting the development of the NSR is highlighted. Finally, the future of the NSR development by looking at sustainability requirements in the Arctic and worldwide that shape the future of the NSR is discussed. Smart shipping is likely to affect global shipping, thus several initiatives for the development of smart shipping for the NSR are discussed too. In conclusion, this chapter provides an outlook for the development of shipping along the NSR in the future.
View
... Putin sees the region as the future lebensraum of Russia to foster its economy, and he implements a fully-fledged policy (Middleton, 2020). The US is criticized for lagging far behind and its reluctancy. ...
The Arctic Security Policy of the US through Geopolitical Analysis: Why did the United States pursue a stagnant Arctic security policy against Russia in the Arctic since the National Strategy for the Arctic was published in 2013?
Research
Full-text available
  • May 2020
The Arctic Security Policy of the US through Geopolitical Analysis:Why did the United States pursue a stagnant Arctic security policy against Russia in the Arctic since the National Strategy for the Arctic was published in 2013?
View
Challenges and Common Agenda for Arctic Cooperation in the Post-pandemic Era: A Chinese Perspective
Chapter
  • Jan 2022
In the past decade, the peace and stability of the Arctic, scientific research in the region, potential business opportunities, and international governance have sparked widespread attention and debate around the globe. Driven by the expectations of the potential political and economic importance of the region, the international cooperation among Arctic states and Non-Arctic stakeholders has been developing rapidly. However, this paper argues that under the impact of intensified competition between major powers, growing security tensions, and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arctic is facing the new normal in political, security, economic, and social dimension. While China provides conceptual and practical contributions to Arctic international cooperation, how to seek the greatest common divisor within the Arctic Council, mediate the contradiction between Arctic exploitation and protection, enhance regional security cooperation, strive for a consensus-based decision-making process, and increase the interoperability of existing Arctic governance mechanisms could be the common agenda for Arctic international cooperation in the post-pandemic era.KeywordsChinese Arctic policyChinaSino-Russian relationsPolar belt
View
China-Russia collaboration in arctic shipping and maritime engineering
Article
  • Aug 2020
In the past decades, climate change has been affecting the reduction of ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean and thus providing opportunities for the development of commercial navigation. Many countries are becoming increasingly interested in the exploration of opening maritime routes. Initiating the Polar Silk Road (PSR), China aims at the diversification of its trade routes and linking the markets of Asia and Europe within a network of transport and economic corridors. The initiative requires improvement of navigational safety and passability of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and other major lanes in the Arctic seas. In this paper, the authors discuss how China may collaborate with Russia to ensure the development of secure navigable deep-water shipping routes in the Arctic and to partner in the engineering and construction of large-tonnage tankers and icebreakers. The paper presents an overview of the current condition of the shipbuilding industry in Russia in relation to the construction of vessels and marine equipment in such segments as icebreaking, transport, port, and dredging fleet. The authors conclude with a summary of the existing technological, engineering, and economic obstacles and opportunities for China in the light of the establishment of navigable maritime routes in the Arctic Ocean.
View
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.