Maritime transport in the Arctic Ocean between Russia and Asia is moving towards new record levels, adding a new field of competition between the most powerful commercial and strategic states. Specifically, the Northern Sea Route (NSR) enters a period of increased commercial and strategic activity in 2026, as Russia strengthens its presence and control in the Arctic, while China and South Korea expand their participation in maritime transport through the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the military side, a force of ships and support vessels of the Russian Northern Fleet recently departed Severomorsk for a long mission in the seas of the Arctic Ocean. The departure from the bases was supported by a group of minesweepers. This development demonstrates the importance that Moscow attaches to the operational presence and control of the Arctic sea lanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, commercial traffic on the NSR is recording a significant increase. According to data from Russia\u2019s Atomflot, a state-owned company in Russia that operates nuclear-powered icebreakers, cargo transport in the first half of 2026 increased by about 15% year-on-year, while the total is expected to exceed 40 million tons for the first time. Of particular importance is the strengthening of Russian-Chinese transport, which exceeded 5 million tons in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important development, however, is the effort to transform the NSR from an energy and export corridor for Russia into an international seasonal trade axis. The Chinese Sea Legend is planning a regular seasonal line between the ports of Ningbo in China and Felixstowe in the UK, with intermediate destinations in Rotterdam, Hamburg and Gdansk, bypassing Russian ports. Meanwhile, the South Korean PanStar is planning a test passage to Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, Russia continues to exploit the NSR to transport hydrocarbons to Asia. An example is the recent passage of an unusually large tanker convoy north of Severnaya Zemlya Island, with an estimated cargo of almost one million tons of oil. The operation was carried out with the support of nuclear-powered icebreakers, highlighting both the possibilities and operational risks of navigation in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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