On October 25, it was announced that Arkhangelsk, one of the Russian Arctic regions, has reached an agreement with China to begin production of ice-class container ships.
During a recent visit to China, representatives from Arkhangelsk joined the Russian-Chinese Forum on Investment Development. It is worth noting the advantages of utilising the Northern Sea Route to connect Russia and China. Arkhangelsk's strategic location offers a significant advantage, with a transit time of approximately 20 days by sea to China, which is 2.5 times faster than the Suez Canal.
The first container ship from a Chinese company sailed from Arkhangelsk to Shanghai in October 2023, and ten voyages have already been completed in 2024. Imports from China include cars, auto parts, construction equipment, and consumer goods, while Arkhangelsk exports lumber, pulp, and polymers.
Arkhangelsk and China plan to produce four Arc7 ice-class container ships by 2030, with a capacity of 4,400 containers each, for year-round Northern Sea Route navigation. The region also proposed assembly plants using Chinese components, especially for cars and household equipment, potentially bypassing customs costs.
The new deep-water section of the Arkhangelsk port will be equipped to accommodate Panamax vessels. If the project is completed, Arkhangelsk could become a 'Northern Singapore', with the potential to enhance container logistics between China and Russia.
Chinese representatives have expressed their interest in expanding cooperation on this project.
Source: Flagman News.
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