Tag: Northern Sea Route

The 2017-built ice class tanker 'Boris Vilkitsky', which is deployed to transport gas from Russian Yamal LNG project, entered the Northern Sea Route with inoperative stern thrusters and port steering column, violating several safety rules, according to NSR Administration.

Currently, there is a great boost of shipping activity in the western part of the Northern Sea Route, with ships bringing in materials and equipment for the Yamal LNG plant and the construction of Sabetta port. Many operators eye the passage through NSR, identifying it as a potential international transit route, therefore, a significant expansion of cargo volume is expected over the coming years.

Russia prepares to impose new restrictions on foreign vessels carrying oil, gas and coal in the Northern Sea Route. According to the new bill, only ships built in Russia and which will be carrying the Russian flag will be allowed to carry oil, natural gas and coal through the Northern Sea Route. The restrictions will start from 2019.

Recently, a milestone was set for Arctic shipping. Namely, the tanker "Eduard Toll" became the first ever ship to sail through the Northern Sea Route during winter, without the help of an icebreaker. Teekay’s "Eduard Toll" started from South Korea in December 2017, heading to the Sabetta LNG terminal in Russia.

More and more ships are attempting to sail without the help of an icebreaker in the tough climatic conditions of Russia’s Northern Sea Route. The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources wants more ships to sail independently, an for that better weather forecasts are important.

Gibson Shipbrokers released their latest report informing about the lack of ice class fleet ordering activity in recent years. Most of the recent newbuild investment has gone into Aframax tonnage with a mix of Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A and 1C orders.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin said in its address to the Federal Assembly that Russia is planning to expand its presence in the Arctic. In order for this to happen, the Northern Sea Route will play an important role. With a number of large-scale industrial projects, the country will try to improve transport, navigation and research, as it considers the Arctic to be key to its development.

On 26 February, Japanese MOL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Far East Investment and Export Agency, under the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East, to cooperate in the development of the Northern Sea Route and the Russian Far East.

The Northern Sea Route saw a record volume of 9.7 million tons of cargo shipped last year, the biggest annual volume ever, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport. In 2016, it had been 7.3 million tonnes, which in turn presented an increase of 35% compared to 2015.