Russia to Develop Seaports and Land Routes in Arctic Zone

Russia is eyeing to develop Trans Arctic shipping route as one of its key transport lanes and the government is looking at integrating its seaports in Arctic zone with the country’s railway and road infrastructure and inland waterways.

According to a study by Finnish and Norwegian scientists in 2022, the Arctic region has been warming four times faster than the rest of the world over the past 40 years and by 2035, parts of the Arctic will be free of ice during summer months, opening up prospects for commercial shipping to ply these waters and shorten transit time between the US, Europe and Asia.

Some other studies also said that the Arctic shipping routes could be 30% to 50% shorter than the Suez Canal and Panama Canal routes, with transit time reduced by an estimated 14 to 20 days.  Beyond commercial shipping, the new routes could attract cruise ships and adventure tourists, these studies said.

According to an Interfax report, Russian presidential aide and Maritime Board Chairman Nikolai Patrushev said that in order to efficiently use the Trans-Arctic shipping route’s potential and turn it into one of the main transport lanes in the country, it is important to ensure the development of port infrastructure along its entire length.

Addressing a meeting held in Arkhangelsk to discuss the development of port infrastructure for launching a Trans-Arctic shipping route, Patrushev also said that this requires the modernisation and development of key seaports in Russia’s Arctic zone.

Investment projects are being implemented to develop the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and Sabetta seaports, there are plans for reconstructing the Dudinka port’s berths, and new facilities are being built at the Dikson port, he said.

Considering that only one-third of Arctic ports are linked with the railway network and in view of anticipated growth in the volume of freight shipments, hinterland connectivity needs to be developed. Seaports should be integrated with the railway and road transport network and with the country’s inland waterways, he said.

Apart from that, the planned freight shipment growth would be accomplished through the use of large freighters, he said.

“This objectively calls for ensuring the required depths and carrying out dredging operations. Considering that major European dredging companies have left the Russian market and that this has significantly increased the cost of dredging operations carried out by Chinese companies, we need to build our own dredging fleet capable of operating particularly in Arctic latitudes,” he said.

Safe Navigation Stressed

To develop a Trans-Arctic shipping route, it was important to ensure safe navigation and develop emergency and rescue infrastructure, he said.

Taking into account the harsh climate and ice cover in the Arctic, the likelihood of emergency situations is objectively high. Therefore, we need to be prepared to respond to possible accidents requiring properly equipped icebreakers, special hardware, and specialists trained to work in high latitudes, he said.

“That said, rescue and emergency units must be properly staffed and equipped. It’s necessary to complete the establishment of emergency and rescue centres where critical economic and infrastructural projects are implemented to be able to respond to the entire range of natural and manmade threats,” he said.

Amid the West’s attempts to contain Russia’s maritime activities, including through building up NATO forces in the Arctic, a Trans-Arctic shipping route linking St. Petersburg and Vladivostok would play a special role from the standpoint of Russia’s access to world oceans, Patrushev added.