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The North Sea Route The shortest route between Europe and Asia

The North Sea Route today and tomorrow

  • 7–15 days total NEP transit time
  • Speed of 5–13 knots
  • 2–4 months of navigation in the open water

Until 2030, NEP cargo shipping volumes will be achieved by Russian consignors.

The main NEP ports: Sabetta, Dudinka, Khatanga, Tiksi, Pevek. Only ice-class vessels navigate the NEP.

5,770 nautical miles

The North Sea Route length from Murmansk to Yokohama

1991  

The North Sea Route opened for international navigation

In 2022, Russia will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the North Sea Route

The 1932 expedition led by Otto Shmidt became the first to complete a voyage through the North Sea Route in a single season, aboard "A. Sibiryakov" icebreaker. On 28 July, the vessel left Arkhangelsk and headed east.

The crew had to replace propeller blades cut off by the ice, heave to, and hoist the sails when the ship lost the propeller entirely. Nevertheless, they achieved their destination after 2 months and 3 days: on 1 October, the crew entered the clean waters of the Bering Strait on a ship with makeshift sails.

In 2022, Russia will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the North Sea Route

Today, the Russian icebreaker fleet includes around 30 diesel-powered icebreakers, 4 nuclear-powered icebreakers, and the "Sevmorput" LASH carrier — the largest and currently the only nuclear-powered cargo ship.

Increasing levels of cargo traffic on the North Sea Route and implementation of the Arctic hydrocarbon projects have prompted the construction of new icebreakers, primarily — nuclear-powered ones. The largest and the most powerful icebreaker in the world — "Arktika", named after its predecessor which was the first to reach the North Pole, is currently at the stage of sea trials.

In 2022, Russia will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the North Sea Route

A new stage in the exploration of the North Sea Route started in times of peace, with the construction of nuclear-powered icebreakers. On 3 December 1959, the first Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker "Lenin" entered service.

The North Sea Route transit speed increased significantly — depending on the ice conditions, a trip across the Arctic was reduced to approximately 18 days. The huge ship was leading convoys of vessels through the Arctic seas for 30 years. During the years in service, "Lenin" led a total of 3,470 vessels through the North Sea Route. After being officially decommissioned, the icebreaker was converted into a museum ship based in Murmansk.

The North Sea Route

The North Sea Route keeps its treasures under a layer of ice and snow
The North Sea Route cargo shipping volumes in 2019
31,5 mln t
Plans to grow cargo shipping volumes by 2024
80 mln t
The North Sea Route cargo shipping volumes to reach by 2035
160 mln t

News

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13 June 2024 The 6th Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology convened in Murmansk

Over 50 scientists from seven countries are attending this scientific event in person.

Murmansk
11 June 2024 Chekunkov: Russia and China can achieve progress in North Sea Route transportation

The Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic noted that the operations by the Chinese carrier NewNew Shipping Line along this route demonstrate the viability of the sea route.

Infrastructure
10 June 2024 The inaugural session of the Russian-Chinese subcommission on developing the North Sea Route is scheduled for October

In 2023, cargo traffic on the North Sea Route totalled 36.25 mn tons, with international transit exceeding 2 mn tons.

Infrastructure
8 June 2024 NAA to begin assembling Sumrak snowmobiles and servicing all-terrain vehicles Nenets district
7 June 2024 At SPIEF, an agreement was signed to establish a unified operator for northern supply Chukotka