Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    imca lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Lift planning procedures must always be reviewed

    ifc piracy

    Infographic: 3 incidents against ships in Singapore Strait

    Infographic: 3 incidents against ships in Singapore Strait

    AMSA: MV Portland Bay must return to harbour

    imca lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Injury after anchor wire end pulled free of drum clamps

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    world lng report

    World LNG Report 2022

    feport evasive calls

    FEPORT supports EU efforts to address evasive port calls, but stresses need for additional action

    iaph esi

    IAPH: Vessels with ESI score above 20 increased

    Maersk ics

    Maersk quits ICS due to group’s “lack of green ambition”

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    sweden ai search and rescue

    Sweden uses AI to improve search and rescue operations

    maersk tankers

    Maersk Tankers launches new tool to help ships track their emissions

    mayflower autonomous ship

    Mayflower Autonomous Ship completes transatlantic voyage

    k line ai

    K Line to use AI to protect cyber security of ship-shore communication

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    Cargo Vessel Allegedly Carrying Stolen Ukrainian Grain

    Windward: Cargo ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain potential indicator of “more brazen Russia”

    paris mou

    2021 Paris MoU Annual Report

    one misdeclared cargo

    ONE to implement penalty fee for misdeclared cargo

    master first officer fined

    Master, First Officer to pay $75,000 for compliance breach in Great Barrier Reef

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    imo voyage together

    Korea donates $2M to IMO for its “Voyage Together” fund

    Novorossiysk terminal

    Russian court decided to temporarily close Novorossiysk terminal

    most expensive ports

    Top 5 most expensive ports globally all located in the US

    clausing bill of lading

    Swedish Club published guide for the practical and theoretical aspects of bills of lading

  • Columns
    UK Chamber of Shipping: Electrification will play a key role in the industry’s decarbonization

    UK Chamber of Shipping: Electrification will play a key role in the industry’s decarbonization

    fire onboard

    Examining Ro-Ro/-Pax, PCTC fires

    IMO: Digitalization paves the way for smarter and greener shipping

    IMO: Digitalization paves the way for smarter and greener shipping

    Trending Tags

    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    imca lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Lift planning procedures must always be reviewed

    ifc piracy

    Infographic: 3 incidents against ships in Singapore Strait

    Infographic: 3 incidents against ships in Singapore Strait

    AMSA: MV Portland Bay must return to harbour

    imca lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Injury after anchor wire end pulled free of drum clamps

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    world lng report

    World LNG Report 2022

    feport evasive calls

    FEPORT supports EU efforts to address evasive port calls, but stresses need for additional action

    iaph esi

    IAPH: Vessels with ESI score above 20 increased

    Maersk ics

    Maersk quits ICS due to group’s “lack of green ambition”

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    sweden ai search and rescue

    Sweden uses AI to improve search and rescue operations

    maersk tankers

    Maersk Tankers launches new tool to help ships track their emissions

    mayflower autonomous ship

    Mayflower Autonomous Ship completes transatlantic voyage

    k line ai

    K Line to use AI to protect cyber security of ship-shore communication

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    Cargo Vessel Allegedly Carrying Stolen Ukrainian Grain

    Windward: Cargo ship allegedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain potential indicator of “more brazen Russia”

    paris mou

    2021 Paris MoU Annual Report

    one misdeclared cargo

    ONE to implement penalty fee for misdeclared cargo

    master first officer fined

    Master, First Officer to pay $75,000 for compliance breach in Great Barrier Reef

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    imo voyage together

    Korea donates $2M to IMO for its “Voyage Together” fund

    Novorossiysk terminal

    Russian court decided to temporarily close Novorossiysk terminal

    most expensive ports

    Top 5 most expensive ports globally all located in the US

    clausing bill of lading

    Swedish Club published guide for the practical and theoretical aspects of bills of lading

  • Columns
    UK Chamber of Shipping: Electrification will play a key role in the industry’s decarbonization

    UK Chamber of Shipping: Electrification will play a key role in the industry’s decarbonization

    fire onboard

    Examining Ro-Ro/-Pax, PCTC fires

    IMO: Digitalization paves the way for smarter and greener shipping

    IMO: Digitalization paves the way for smarter and greener shipping

    Trending Tags

    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

by The Editorial Team
March 24, 2022
in Maritime Knowledge
Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

Ice canal made by icebreaker with red icebreaker visible on horizon./ Image Credit: Shutterstock

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Fuel consumption and subsequent costs are an important area of concern in shipping operations which makes alternative routes an attractive opportunity for the industry to explore. Amid diminishing ice and growing international interest in the Arctic, the Northern Sea Route has emerged as a new strategic opportunity for maritime transport.

The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane officially defined by Russian legislation between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean specifically running along the Russian Arctic coast from Murmansk on the Barents Sea, along Siberia, to the Bering Strait and Far East. The entire route lies in Arctic waters and within Russia’s exclusive economic zone. Parts are free of ice for only two months per year.

Did you know?

NSR is “crossing” five Arctic Seas: Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea.

Northern Sea Route or Northeast Passage?

The Northern Sea Route accounts for the biggest part of the Northeast Passage (NEP) which describes the overall shipping route along the Arctic coasts of Norway and Russia (Siberia). Accordingly, the Northwest Passage (NWP) refers to the western route through the islands of Canada.

RelatedNews

Modern problems affecting crew welfare and the way forward

How oil majors threaten climate targets

A common confusion is that the “Northern Sea Route” is often used as a term instead of the “Northeast Passage”, although NSR does not include the Barents Sea and, therefore, does not reach the Atlantic Ocean. This terminology overlapping leads to a common confusion in both navigational and jurisdiction issues.

Northeast Passage – Russia side Northwest Passage – Canada side
Shipping route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, along the Arctic coasts of Norway and northern Siberia, Russia.Sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through Canadian Arctic Archipelago

The logic behind NSR

Widely known as “the shortcut between Asia and Europe”, the Northern Sea Route offers an attractive alternative to Suez Canal, the world’s busiest route, for shipping transport to the fast-growing regions in the Far East. It is estimated that NSR provides a 40% smaller distance from Northern Europe to China and vice versa, when compared to the Suez Canal.

Global warming, leading to diminishing ice conditions, has a major role to play to this end. To remind, 2021 was the 7th warmest year on record for the Arctic, according to the US NOAA, while all 15 of the lowest minimum extents have occurred in the last 15 years and are considered the result of GHG emissions. Accelerating shrinking sea ice is enabling shipping and other commercial and industrial activities to push deeper into the Arctic, with voyages increasing annually. In 2013, 71 vessels sailed the route compared to 46 in 2012, 41 in 2011 and 4 in 2010.

Energy and time savings through NSR when compared to the normally used route via Suez Canal are estimated at 30-40%, while piracy risk is non-existent. However, environmental risks and increased operating costs are a major area of concern for the option of NSR. In this context, it has been suggested as an ideal solution for ships to jointly use the two routes; the Northern Sea Route in summer when it is almost ice-free, and the Suez Canal Route during the rest of the year.

The NSR is also a great part of Russia’s Arctic strategy, which is envisioning an active development of hydrocarbon riches, development of Arctic ports and other infrastructure.

From a geo-political standpoint, the NSR provides a new avenue for developing international relations with new and existing customers for Russian hydrocarbons, while also allowing Russia to compete with key rivals in a rapidly globalizing market,

…the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies explained.

DO YOU KNOW?: Read in this series

icct aleutian islands

Do you know what CII stands for?

June 27, 2022
Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance

Do you know what EU Taxonomy is?

June 27, 2022
fueleu

Do you know what methane slip is?

May 12, 2022
general average

Do you know what General Average means?

May 10, 2022
eunavfor

Do you know where the food you eat comes from?

April 21, 2022
nato v group

Do you know what FOC are?

March 28, 2022
Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

Do you know what the Northern Sea Route is?

March 24, 2022
Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

Do you know why a ship’s bow thruster is vital?

March 2, 2022
nyk line

Do you know what Poseidon Principles stand for?

February 14, 2022
iumi ig clubs

Do you know why P&I Clubs are vital for shipping?

December 30, 2021
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
ship

Do you know what ships apply SOLAS?

October 29, 2021
low draft limits barranquilla

12 nautical terms to know

October 22, 2021
under keel clearance

Do you know what under keel clearance is? 

October 8, 2021
sire 2.0

Do you know how ship propulsion has changed?

June 1, 2021
NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
gmdss

Do you know what GMDSS stands for?

October 22, 2020
us cruise ships

Do you know what cold ironing is?

October 5, 2020
Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

Do you know what the bulbous bow is for?

February 6, 2020
Ship Security Alert System

Do you know what a Ship Security Alert System is?

January 22, 2020
Authorized Service Providers

Do you know how many types of lifeboats exist?

January 17, 2020
flush the toilet

Do you know what happens after you flush the toilet on a ship?

January 16, 2020
master alternative quay

Do you know how many ranks and duties exist onboard? 

December 20, 2019
types of ships

Do you know how many types of ships exist?

December 4, 2019
bimco world fleet

Do you know why IMO number is important for vessels?

December 3, 2019
solas

Do you know when to abandon a ship?

December 3, 2019
panama neptune declaration

Do you know how to distinguish an Aframax from a Panamax vessel?

November 21, 2019
bunkering

Do you know what a Bunker Delivery Note includes?

November 20, 2019
emissions from ships

Do you know why FONAR is needed from 2020 and onwards?

October 23, 2019
Plimsoll lines

Do you know what Plimsoll lines on ships are?

October 17, 2019
ships are red

Do you know why ships are red on bottom?

October 16, 2019
starboard

Why do ships use ‘port’ and ‘starboard’ and not ‘left’ or ‘right’

August 18, 2019
pandemic seafarers

Inert Gas onboard: Key safety precautions

May 10, 2019
scottish maritime sector

Do you know why is a ship called she?

April 1, 2019

A timeline of NSR history

  • 1878-79: The route was first conquered by Scandinavian explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, during the historic Vega expedition. Named after the sailing ship Vega, this was the first Arctic expedition to navigate through the Northeast Passage and the first voyage to circumnavigate Eurasia.
  • 1878-1919: Only a total of 75 convoys succeed to transport agricultural cargo via the Kara Sea.
  • 1912: Two Russian expeditions, the Brusilov and the Gerkules, disappeared in the Arctic route. A German Arctic Expedition at the same year ends up in 8 out of 15 crew fatalities.
  • 1913: A successful expedition, organized by Jonas Lied, takes place through the Kara Sea to the Yenisei.
  • 1917: After the Russian Revolution, the use of NSR becomes imperative for Soviet Union which becomes isolated from the West.
  • 1932: A Soviet expedition on the icebreaker A. Sibiryakov, led by Professor Otto Yulievich Schmidt, was the first to sail all the way from Arkhangelsk to the Bering Strait in the same summer without wintering en route.
  • 1941-1945: During the Soviet-German War, the Soviets transferred several destroyers from the Pacific Fleet to the Northern Fleet via the Arctic.
  • 1965: USCG cutter Northwind, commanded by Captain Kingdrel N. Ayers, becomes the first western vessel to operate in the Kara Sea of the Soviet Union, during an oceanographic survey.
  • 1990s: Dissolvement of Societ Union leads to commercial navigation in the Siberian Arctic to a decline.
  • 2017: In August 2017, the first ship traverses the Northern Sea Route without the use of icebreakers.
  • 2018: Danish shipping giant Maersk Line sends the new “ice-class” container ship Venta Maersk through the route to gather data on operational feasibility but does not see it as commercially attractive.
Tags: ArcticDo you knowMaripediaNorthern Sea Route

Comments 1

  1. Gabriel Abad says:
    2 months ago

    Is there sattelite (GMDSS) coverage on the NSR ?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

imca lessons learned

Lessons learned: Lift planning procedures must always be reviewed

July 6, 2022
world lng report

World LNG Report 2022

July 6, 2022
MARITIME EVENTS

Newsletter

GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!

Explore

  • Safety
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • Events
  • Plus

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Contact

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Alerts
    • Accidents
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Opinions
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
  • Events
  • Plus

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Disclaimer.