Northern Sea Route will become a year-round artery in the near future, RF President Vladimir Putin said when speaking at the fourth international forum The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue.
“Changes in the ice situation and the availability of new up-to-date vessels makes it an almost year-round artery, at least, it will become one in the near future. It will be an effective and reliable transport corridor with great potential for the Russian and global economies”, said Vladimir Putin.
The President said he had already instructed the Government to work through the issues of creating a separate entity, which would be in charge of the integrated development of the Northern Sea Route and contiguous core areas, including infrastructure, hydrography, security, management, and all associated services.
“We invite our foreign colleagues to make active use of the opportunities offered by the Northern Sea Route, which will cut transportation costs and delivery time for goods between Europe and Asia. However, we are well aware that for that corridor to be competitive, all-purpose, and usable by carriers of all types of goods ranging from bulk cargo to containerised freight, transport companies must enjoy the most favourable terms that meet the latest international standards”, he added.
Vladimir Putin forecasts annual cargo traffic on the Northern Sea Route to reach 30 mln t by 2035.