Northern Sea Route shippers ready to replace lost transit traffic by rerouting cargo - Trutnev

MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) - Companies that ship cargo along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are prepared to replace lost transit traffic on this shipping lane by rerouting traffic from other transport corridors, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev told reporters on Thursday.

In order to achieve the target set by President Vladimir Putin of increasing shipping along the NSR to 80 million tonnes by 2024, "we again asked all companies, who will reach what volume of cargo [shipments along this route]," Trutnev said after a meeting in Arkhangelsk of the presidium of the State Commission for the Arctic.

"There are some difficulties - transit volume has decreased. But, in principle, companies are prepared to switch some traffic from other transport corridors. We need to look at the cost effectiveness of these actions so that this does not happen at a loss, so that this works for the economy, not against it. But, nonetheless, we will make every possible effort to meet the objective set by the president," Trutnev said.

He said issues considered at the presidium meeting included the development of the Arkhangelsk transport hub.

"Frankly speaking, not all the Transport Ministry's answers were satisfactory. We agreed that within two weeks the Transport Ministry, together with the Far East and Arctic Development Ministry, will prepare a report for the government that elaborates the plan for the development of the Arkhangelsk transport hub, because at this point it is notional. There are no specific deadlines for carrying out measures, no cost. Then it's not a plan yet, but a wish list," Trutnev said.

The presidium also considered issues related to the priority development area in the Arkhangelsk Region, he said.