Northern Sea Route will be developed by a dedicated organization

The measures on the development of the Northern Sea Route have been included into state programmes of Russia with NSR management and development to be in charge of a special organization. That was announced by Aleksandr Galushka, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East at the meeting between Yury Trutnev, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, and Wang Yang, Vice Premier of China’s State Council.

According to the Minister, the key task is to increase the number of ships on the Northern Sea Route in the period of ice-free water. 

Aleksandr Galushka said, it is necessary to intensify cooperation with Chinese shipping companies for developing a package of measures needed to develop the route. 

Mr Wang Yang confirmed the interest of China and emphasized the significance of boosting the capacity at the Far East ports.

The Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East says the optimal logistics of the regular Arctic container line include 2 hubs – the ports of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Murmansk. This route is unique with the opportunity for cargo owners from the North-East Asia to save up to 9 days of transit time when transporting cargo to the North Europe as compared with the Suez and Panama canal routes, while the costs are almost the same. 

Both sides have confirmed their interest in implementation of the key projects - international transport corridors Primorye-1 and Primorye-2.

Mr Trutnev emphasized that the Government of Russia had undertaken a number of measures to simplify transition of Chinese cargoes to the territory of Russia.

International transport corridors Primorye-1 and Primorye-2 run across the Free Port of Vladivostok and link China’s Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces with the seaports of the Primorsky Territory. Chinese consignors are expected to save $1 bln annually when using Primorye-1 and Primorye-2.