The number of subsidised coaster voyages along the North Sea Route (NSR) is planned to be increased to four in 2023 to ensure northern supply. In addition, it is envisaged that smaller vessels will be used for this purpose to call at shallow ports. This was announced by Gadzhimagomed Huseynov, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, at an off-site meeting on the development of the Russian Far East, the press service of the Ministry said, PortNews reported.

The number of subsidised coaster voyages along the North Sea Route (NSR) is planned to be increased to four in 2023 to ensure northern supply. In addition, it is envisaged that smaller vessels will be used for this purpose to call at shallow ports. This was announced by Gadzhimagomed Huseynov, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, at an off-site meeting on the development of the Russian Far East, the press service of the Ministry said, PortNews reported.

In 2022, regular cargo service was launched on the NSR; two voyages were made from ports in Northwest Russia to the Far East and back, carrying 8,500 tons of cargo, with a 90% load on the last voyage in the eastern direction.

According to the Minister, the State Duma is scheduled to consider a law on northern supply during the spring session. 'For the law to work from next year, we must launch a unified planning system for northern supply, identify a single maritime operator and begin to establish a management centre for northern supply. It will also be necessary to develop and approve 10 by-laws,' Gadzhimagomed Huseynov said.

Aleksey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, said at the meeting that exports of goods via the NSR should exceed $100 bn annually in seven years, and 'the importance of the NSR for the Russian economy will be comparable to that of the oil and gas sector.'