Northern Sea Route cargo traffic totaled 27.59 million tonnes YTD, up almost 70% Y-o-Y
As of 29 November 2019, cargo turnover in the Northern Sea Route waters totaled 27,593,076 tonnes, which is 70% more as compared with the same period of the previous year, press center of Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot) cites Yury Tsvetkov, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, as saying at the plenary session of the IX international forum “Arctic: Today and the future” which kicked off in Saint-Petersburg on December 5.
Transit cargo flow accounts for about 40% (697,277 tonnes versus 491,342 tonnes in the same period of 2018).
Besides, Yury Tsvetkov emphasized that measures undertaken by Russia and planned activities let ensure high level of safety and environmental compatibility in the water area of the Northern Sea Route.
The speaker shared information about icebreaking assistance in the NSR waters, development of navigational & hydrographic and search & rescue support including construction of a new state-of-the-art fleet of icebreakers, buoy tenders, rescue and survey ships.
The official told about the plans to be implemented as part of the federal project “Northern Sea Route” included into the comprehensive plan for upgrading and expanding core infrastructure for the period till 2024: construction of GMDSS facilities (2021), reconstruction of infrastructure facilities at the technical fleet base of Marine Rescue Service ‘s Northern branch in Murmansk (2022) and many other activities.
According to Yury Tsvetkov, a lot has been done at the national and international levels to ensure safe shipping along the NSR. He reminded that under the Rules of navigation in the water area of the Northern Sea Route it is required to provide documents confirming compliance with the Polar Code provisions applicable to a ship asking for a permission to pass the NSR. Harbour Masters of Russian seaports check compliance of foreign ships with the Polar Code requirements as part of port state control procedures.
The 9th “Arctic: Today and the future” Forum organized by the Association of Polar Explorers will last till December 7. The organizers expect that the Forum will gather over 2,500 participants representing more than 40 Russian regions (including all the Arctic regions) and more than 20 foreign countries (including member states and associate members of the Arctic Council).
Related links:
Forum «Arctic: Today and the Future» kicked off in Saint-Petersburg >>>>
Cargo traffic on Northern Sea Route can grow to 160 million tonnes by 2035 – Aleksandr Krutikov >>>>
