Russia expects a 50% rise in voyages by foreign vessels through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2025, state nuclear energy company Rosatom told Reuters in late May.
The NSR, which runs along Russia’s Arctic coast, offers a shortcut between Russian ports and China during ice-free months, saving ships up to 10 days compared to the Suez Canal. Moscow is promoting the route as a safer, more geopolitically favorable alternative that avoids sailing near European Union borders.
In comments emailed to Reuters, Rosatom said there is a “clear upward trend in international interest” in the route and that foreign companies are expected to increase their voyages by at least 1.5 times this year. As of May 27, 196 applications had been submitted for navigation along the NSR, including from foreign-flagged ships. The summer-autumn navigation season will run from July 1 to November 30.
Rosatom also told Reuters that nearly 38 million metric tons of goods, including oil and liquefied natural gas, were shipped along the route last year, marking a record.
Despite the growing interest, the route remains limited to warmer months due to heavy winter ice. While the NSR has long been dominated by Russian shipping giant Sovcomflot, Azerbaijan-based Vista Vvave Shipmanagement was among new international users last year.
