Murmansk could become the primary container hub in the Arctic with the right infrastructure in place. Over the next few years, the capacity of Murmansk's port is expected to double to 110 mn tons annually, according to Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region. This is reported by RIA Novosti.

'Murmansk could become the primary container hub in the Arctic. This is currently a major focus of our work with investors. Infrastructure is necessary, but the initial projects with substantial cargo volumes are already underway,' Chibis concluded.

The regional head added that Murmansk's deep-water and ice-free port operates all year round and ranks among Russia's top five. 'Murmansk serves as the base port for the North Sea Route. The cargo turnover reached 58 mn tons at the end of 2023. This represents an increase of nearly 3% from the previous year,' he noted.

A key project is the Murmansk Transport Hub, featuring nearly 50 km of railway tracks. Last year, the President of Russia inaugurated operational traffic on the railway currently under construction along the western shore of Kola Bay, reminded the Governor.

Currently, most of Murmansk's port activities are concentrated on the eastern shore of the bay. 'We are essentially establishing a second line of dock frontage. By the end of this year, considering the new railway, we expect to handle 45 mn tons, with a goal to eventually double this to 110 mn tons,' Chibis emphasised.

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