Transit traffic is a sign of demand for the Northern Sea Route, so its growth is important in terms of the maritime logistics business, ROSATOM's representative said.
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) boundaries are defined by the Merchant Shipping Code of the Russian Federation as stretching from Novaya Zemlya in the west to Cape Dezhnev in the east. Cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route can be divided into three groupes.
The first includes shipments from the Gulf of Ob and Yenisei Gulf; the second is cabotage shipping needed to supply investment projects in the Arctic and deliver goods to northern communities; and the third is transit cargo carried by vessels loaded and unloaded at ports outside the NSR.
Overall cargo traffic along the NSR for the period from January to October this year reached 31.4 million tonnes, 6 per cent more than in the same period last year, ROSATOM's special representative for Arctic development, Vladimir Panov, said.
The previous record for the amount of transit cargo traffic along the NSR was set in 2021, when 2 million tonnes were shipped in transit. In 2022, transit dropped by 90% due to a combination of various factors, reaching 200,000 tonnes. In 2023, transit shipments will total 2.12 million tonnes. Thus, we have a new record for transit, ROSATOM's representative added.
Commenting on the type of transit cargo shipped along the NSR in 2023, he said the main cargo was oil, with about 1.5 million tonnes shipped. Iron ore concentrate made up about 350,000 tonnes. Also, Gazprom, a Russian energy company, shipped one vessel with 70,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ELSI Mining, one of the largest coal mining companies in Russia, also shipped one vessel carrying 70,000 tonnes.
State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (ROSATOM) is one of the global technological leaders, with capacities in the nuclear sector and beyond, and business partners in 50 countries. The corporation includes about 400 enterprises and organisations employing a total of more than 330,000 people.
Source: Interfax
Also read the publication:
Arctic Transport: Arkhunt N Snow and Swamp-Going Vehicles
