Northern Sea Route

The India-Russia working group on cooperation in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) held their first meeting recently. They discussed possible training of Indian sailors for polar navigation and development of joint projects in Arctic shipbuilding.

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About Northern Sea route (NSR)

It is a shipping route that runs along the Russian Arctic coast, connecting the Barents Sea to the Bering Strait. It connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans through the Arctic
It spans approximately 5,600 km and offers a shorter maritime pathway between Europe and Asia-Pacific.
The entire route lies in Arctic waters and within Russia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

Advantages Over Traditional Routes

Reduced Distance: The NSR can save up to 50% in distance compared to traditional routes like the Suez Canal.
Faster Transit Times: For example, the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC) is expected to reduce the time required to transport cargo between India and far-east Russia by up to 16 days, cutting the current 40-day travel time by almost half to 24 days.
Access to Untapped Resources: The Arctic region is believed to hold over 40% of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas reserves, making it strategically important for energy security.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) has several challenges, including

Unpredictable weather: The Arctic is known for its unstable weather conditions, including fog, poor visibility and violent winds.
Icebergs: The Arctic Ocean is home to thick ice layers and icebergs that can obstruct cargo ships and cause disastrous collisions.
Lack of infrastructure: The Russian Arctic lacks the necessary port infrastructure and connectivity to make the NSR effective.
Lack of ice-breaking fleets: Major trading nations lack the ice-breaking fleets needed to support the NSR