Rosatom reported that the Northern Sea Route is “one step” from year-round transportation
Rosatom expects to start year-round transportation along the Northern Sea Route in early 2027. For this purpose, regular flights to the east are being prepared, and the nuclear icebreaker fleet is planned to be increased to nine ships
The Northern Sea Route (Northern Sea Route, NSR) may switch to year-round operation in early 2027, when one of the largest shippers will begin to regularly transport products to Asia. About this Director for the development of the NSR and the Arctic — head of the Arctic Directorate of Rosatom Vladimir Panov said in an interview with Interfax.
“The NSR is one step away from regular traffic to the east, that is, one step away from year-round traffic. We expect that this will happen at the beginning of 2027, when one of our largest shippers will begin regular shipments of its products to Asia.
According to Panov, preparations for regular eastern flights are at the final stage. He noted that Russian sailors have accumulated experience in the Arctic, and the Zvezda shipyard handed over the first two gas carriers to the customer to work in the NSR waters. At the beginning of next year, it is planned to commission the Chukotka nuclear icebreaker, after which the nuclear icebreaker fleet will increase to nine vessels.
The Northern Sea Route is the shortest water route between the European part of Russia and the Far East. It completely passes through the seas of the Arctic and partially Pacific Ocean within the borders of Russia. Permissions to pass through it are issued by Rosatom.
The Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is a route from St. Petersburg and Murmansk through the Northern Sea Route to Vladivostok and further to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. It should combine sea transportation with the railway and inland waterways of Russia. The project provides for the development of ports, icebreaker and rescue fleet, communications and other infrastructure for international transit and supply of the Arctic regions.
The next task will be to increase the efficiency of transportation, Panov said. It is already possible to hold a caravan of ships in winter and spring, but it is necessary to increase the speed of its movement. In addition, emergency and rescue infrastructure, communications and medical support will be developed.
Panov linked the development of the route with the creation of the Transarctic transport corridor. It should include the Northern Sea Route, related inland waterways and railways, as well as other transport infrastructure.
The Northern Sea Route is already used by Chinese carriers. NewNew Shipping Line began regular transportation from China in 2023, and Sea Legend Shipping launched a weekly seasonal route between China and Europe in August 2026. According to Rosatom, the number of flights via the NSR from China to Russia increased from seven in 2023 to 24 in 2025, in 2026 more than 30 flights are expected.
South Korea has also begun testing the route. In August, she sent the PanStar Acro container ship on a pilot flight to Europe. Seoul consulted with Moscow, including on the issue of assistance to the vessel in case of possible difficulties in the ice.
In 2024 and 2025, cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route exceeded 37 million tons annually. By the end of 2026, Rosatom predicts its growth to 40 million tons. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum announced plans to transfer the Trans-Arctic transport corridor to round-the-clock work.
