The Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest maritime corridor between the European part of Russia and the Russian Far East. Ships cross six seas of the Arctic Ocean: the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi and Bering seas.

Ports in the European part of Russia
Far Eastern regions
Mouths of navigable rivers

The Arctic transport corridor connects:

The Northern Sea Route
Route via the Suez
and Panama canals
14,000 km
12–14 days
30–45 days
23,700 km
Advantages of the NSR:
  • Lower greenhouse gas emissions: by 23 percent, or by 38 percent when using LNG (liquefied natural gas)
  • Growth driver for the Russian Arctic’s economy: It accounts for up to 20 percent of the Russian export
  • No queues or bottlenecks
  • No piracy threats
    (except the occasional polar bear)
Advantages of the NSR:
  • Lower greenhouse gas emissions: by 23 percent, or by 38 percent when using LNG (liquefied natural gas)
  • Growth driver for the Russian Arctic’s economy: It accounts for up to 20 percent of the Russian export
  • No queues or bottlenecks
  • No piracy threats
    (except the occasional polar bear)
Freight volume along the NSR
(in million tons per year, projected by 2030)
Freight volume along the NSR
(in million tons per year, projected by 2030)
The NSR development roadmap until 2035 includes over 150 intiatives, with the total budget of nearly 1.8 trillion rubles.
The NSR development roadmap until 2035 includes over 150 intiatives, with the total budget of nearly 1.8 trillion rubles.

  • Natural resource extraction to build up an export-oriented cargo base, including the launch of LNG production and exploration of oil fields.

  • Development of port infrastructure, railway and river transport corridors to increase cargo throughput along the NSR.
  • Creation and development of Arctic shipbuilding and ship repair facilities.
  • Information and digital services to support navigation in NSR waters.
  • Creation of an Arctic satellite constellation.
  • Expansion of the Arctic cargo fleet.
  • Development of transit shipping.
  • Natural resource extraction to build up an export-oriented cargo base, including the launch of LNG production and exploration of oil fields.
  • Development of port infrastructure, railway and river transport corridors to increase cargo throughput along the NSR.
  • Creation and development of Arctic shipbuilding and ship repair facilities.
  • Information and digital services to support navigation in NSR waters.
  • Creation of an Arctic satellite constellation.
  • Expansion of the Arctic cargo fleet.
  • Development of transit shipping.