MSC has reaffirmed its commitment to not using the Northern Sea Route as a shipping lane, a stance that is recommended for the entire shipping industry.
The commitment to avoid trade routes in fragile marine ecosystems and vulnerable environments is emphasized by Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs at MSC Group in a video posted by the company. The rationale for this position includes several key points:
- Arctic waters present significant navigational challenges due to ice, severe weather conditions, insufficient charting, and limited infrastructure.
- Search-and-rescue and pollution response resources are distant, which could leave vessels and crews largely unsupported in emergencies.
- Arctic communities depend on shipping, and unnecessary transits could burden essential traffic in these regions.
- There are no shortcuts to achieving decarbonization in the shipping sector.
To remind, Russia has been actively engaged in identifying other pathways to circumvent its reliance on the Black Sea and evade the impact of sanctions. Consequently, Russia is increasingly shifting its focus towards the use of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Earlier this month, the Eduard Toll Arc-7 ice-breaking LNG tanker has successfully transported its cargo from the Yamal LNG plant in Russia to China’s Fujian terminal via the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
