Rosatom expects foreign vessel transits to double along NSR in 2025

ST. PETERSBURG. Sept 23 (Interfax) - Rosatom expects the number of transits by vessels under foreign flags along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to double in 2025 compared to the previous season, the state corporation's deputy CEO and director of the Arctic Department Vyacheslav Ruksha said.

"If we talk about foreign cargo traffic, it is most likely general and containerized cargo, which should be measured by the number of vessel transits. This is also a very difficult topic - how many, under which flag, I'm not ready to answer immediately. But, as an example, there is high activity from a number of Chinese companies. In this summer-autumn season, I think the number of vessel transits will not be eight to ten, as it was specifically with containerized cargo [in 2024], but already over 20, even more," Ruksha told journalists during the ongoing 18th Neva international exhibition and conference in St. Petersburg.

The number of vessels in NSR waters has increased compared to last year, Ruksha said.

"For instance, yesterday there were almost 190 vessels. A year ago, this figure at about the same time was around 150-140 vessels," he said.

The cargo traffic along the NSR will remain at last year's level in 2025, he said.

As reported, cargo transportation along the Northern Sea Route reached a record 37.9 million tonnes in 2024. Rosatom preliminarily estimates NSR cargo traffic in the range of 36-38.5 million tonnes for 2025.

Rosatom received the functions of the infrastructure development operator for the Northern Sea Route, including the nuclear icebreaker fleet, in 2018. The state corporation is developing the feasibility study for a project to create a container line and hub ports in the east and west of the route for cargo transit along the NSR.