Putin tasks government, Maritime Board with considering direct access of cargo from Siberia, Urals to Trans-Arctic Corridor
VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the government and the Maritime Board at the Eastern Economic Forum with considering direct access of cargo from Siberia and the Urals to the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.
"The development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is of special significance to the Far East, our whole country and the entire Eurasian continent. It goes from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok through Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and the Northern Sea Route. We see that both Russian companies working in the Arctic and foreign carriers are increasingly interested in that route. This is about both individual, one-time transit and the formation of a stable cargo flow," he said.
"We will develop the Trans-Arctic Corridor. We keep talking about the Northern Sea Route but if you have noticed, I have been talking about the Trans-Arctic Corridor. So, we have come to a conclusion that, of course, we should scale up our considerations and make this corridor operate together with all territories along the Northern Sea Route and their capabilities," Putin said.
"This is a complex system to combine maritime, railway and motor transportation. It will allow using the potential of our biggest rivers, such as Ob, Yenisei and Lena. Everything should work as a single whole. We will not just lay reliable, safe sea routes in the Arctic and start 24/7 operation of the Trans-Arctic Corridor. Work also needs to be done on the coast and include the development of communication, navigation, a ship maintenance system, and rescue infrastructure. Of course, an upgrade of seaports in the Far East is also on the agenda," Putin said.
"By the way, the Artyom multimodal complex opened here, in the Primorye Territory just yesterday. It handles containers both from abroad and from Russian regions. It is also due to raise the efficiency of deliveries to northern territories. It is crucial to develop such modern transport and logistics centers in our country and to increase their number. So that cargo is delivered and processed faster and in a more effective manner. Please note that it is important to use advanced, including unmanned technologies precisely at such facilities, logistic complexes," he said.
"The Trans-Arctic Corridor should be working in the first turn to the benefit of the national economy and our regions in the Far East, Siberia and the Arctic. Cooperation between them should be taken into account and new opportunities should be unlocked for business. Let me emphasize two potentially significant areas for development here. These include the opening of modern shipbuilding centers. They are due to make the entire range of ships to operate on the route, from tugs and supply ships to ice-class bulkers and gas tankers, and super powerful icebreakers," Putin said.
"Secondly, it will be necessary to open direct access for cargo from Siberia and the Urals to Arctic seaways in order to raise the efficiency and resilience of the Trans-Arctic Corridor. I am asking colleagues from the government and the Russian Maritime Board to evaluate the relevance of these proposals and make their suggestions," he said.
The Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor goes through the ports of St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok. Its perimeter also encompasses the Northern Sea Route, the boundaries of which are defined by the Merchant Shipping Code from the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago in the west to Cape Dezhnev in Chukotka.
Russia strives to create an international transport alternative in the Arctic on the basis of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and indicates that the Northern Sea Route is 30% shorter than the route from Europe to Asia that goes through the Suez Canal.
