Transition to year-round navigation in Northern Sea Route's eastern sector expected in 2024 - Ministry

VLADIVOSTOK. May 30 (Interfax) - The transition to year-round navigation using high-ice-class vessels is expected to start this year in the eastern sector of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Russian First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Gadzhimagomed Guseinov said at the plenary meeting of the Maritime Congress - Far East forum in Vladivostok on Thursday.

"Today, there are ten icebreakers operating in the waters of the Northern Sea Route, seven of which are nuclear-powered. As such, year-round navigation using high-ice-class vessels in the eastern sector of the NSR is planned to start this year," he said.

"The total requirement to ensure cargo flow along the NSR for our key investment projects in the Arctic is more than 120 ships, whose construction is provided for in the long-term civilian ship construction plan through 2035," Guseinov said.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, at a May 20 meeting of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with deputy prime ministers, said that the plan for the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in Primorye includes the construction of an additional 92 ice-class cargo ships to serve the needs of the Northern Sea Route by 2037.