At the meeting, the Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Head of the Marine Board highlighted the critical role of river and sea transport in supporting the  livelihoods and economic growth of the Arctic territories of Siberia and the Far East. The discussion focused on the development of the Ob-Irtysh inland waterway system and the modernization of infrastructure at the Salekhard river port.

Patrushev stressed that, in the absence of a well-developed road and railway networks in these areas, waterways remain virtually the only viable means of transport.

“They are essential for transporting a wide range of goods, including supplies under the framework of the northern delivery of goods,” the Head of the Marine Board added.

He noted that sea and river transport play a crucial role in delivering equipment and construction materials, including to sites involved in the development of Arctic deposits.

In March of this year, the Marine Board’s Council for the Development and Support of Marine Activities reviewed the issue of maximizing the potential of inland water resources. Following the meeting, instructions were issued to prepare a comprehensive pilot project for the development of territories and inland waterways in the Ob-Irtysh basin within the Siberian Federal District.

According to the Head of the Marine Board, the project provides for an integrated approach that combines the advancement of shipping, hydropower, irrigation, and land reclamation systems, alongside the development of mineral resources and measures to protect both territories and the population from emergency situations.