Freight traffic volume on the Northern Sea Route rose 2% in 2014 to 3.98 million tonnes

Cargo shipped along the Northern Sea Route in 2014 increased by 2% on the previous year's figure to 3.98 million tonnes, IAA PortNews correspondent reported quoting the Northern Sea Route Administration's head.

Alexander Olshevsky, the head of the Northern Sea Route Administration speaking at the annual international conference "Transport and Logistics in the Arctic-2015" said that in the reporting period through the ports of the Northern Sea Route shippers transported 3.7 million tonnes of freight (+ 35%), including through the Yamal based port of Sabetta 1.13 million tonnes (an increase of 2.85 times).

Alexander Olshevsky added that according to domestic scientists forecast in the coming years ice cover in the Arctic will likely increase, and the maritime community should not rely on global warming.

In this regard, Olshevsky said, the country needs to expand its fleet of multipurpose icebreakers, which should not only perform icebreaking assistance to ships but also participate in search and rescue operations in the waters of the Northern Sea Route.