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China Reports Ice Condition on the Northern Sea Route

 
Photo: TG-channel “The First Arctic”

On July 1, a radio station in the Chinese port city of Tianjin has begun broadcasting weather and ice condition analyis and forecasts for ships navigating the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

Arctic waters are increasingly used as an alternative route connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to the world's major economies. This is due to the global warming reducing the ice cover and allowing longer navigation periods. 

China and Russia are also jointly developing Arctic shipping routes, with Russia seeking to supply more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, while Beijing looks for an alternative route to reduce its reliance on the Malacca Strait.

The Tianjin station broadcasts ice condition reports and weather information twice a day, at 14:00 and 22:00 Beijing time, covering the Bering Strait, Dmitry Laptev Strait, Vilkitsky Strait, and Kara Gates along the Russian coast. These reports indicate that the NSR is becoming a viable alternative to the Suez Canal route.

09.07.2024