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Commercialisation of Arctic
May 26 , 2019
1820 days
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- Russia has launched a nuclear-powered icebreaker called Ural.
- It is a part of an ambitious programme to improve Russia’s ability to tap the Arctic’s commercial potential.
- 2 more icebreakers Arktika (Arctic) and Sibir (Siberia) are being built by Russia.
- In light of warmer climates, Russia is building new infrastructure and overhauling its ports.
- It readies for more traffic via what it calls the Northern Sea Route (NSR) which it envisages being navigable year-round.
Northern Sea Route
- The Northern Sea Route is a shipping route defined by Russia as lying east of Novaya Zemlya and specifically running along the Russian Arctic coast from the Kara Sea, along Siberia, to the Bering Strait.
- The entire route lies in Arctic waters and within Russia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
- Parts are free of ice for only two months per year.
- Melting Arctic ice caps are likely to increase traffic in and the commercial viability of the Northern Sea Route.
- This route may increase heavy shipping traffic in the Arctic and a substantial drop in Suez traffic.
- Projected shifts in trade also imply substantial pressure on an already threatened Arctic ecosystem.
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