Kathmandu— India is preparing to send its first cargo ship along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – a shipping lane running along Russia’s Arctic coast – in 2027, seeking to deepen trade with Moscow while circumventing Western sanctions and avoiding potential disruptions to the traditional Suez Canal route. The NSR, approximately 5,600 kilometers long, offers the shortest maritime path between East Asia and Europe, becoming increasingly navigable due to climate change but still requiring specialized icebreakers for safe passage. This initiative comes as India and Russia work towards a $100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030, with Russian oil comprising over half of New Delhi’s imports.

Arctic Route Gains Traction

The NSR has seen increased interest from several nations, including China and South Korea, as climate change opens up the route seasonally. Russia has invested heavily in developing the necessary infrastructure, recently partnering with DP World to expand container shipping capabilities along the Arctic corridor. Cargo volumes have already surpassed 37 million tons over the past two years, with projections reaching 20 million tons by 2030.

Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor Success

S. Venkatesapathy, joint secretary in the Indian Shipping Ministry, highlighted the success of the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor – also known as the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) – which has experienced a 70% increase in cargo movement. He believes there is significant potential to extend this positive trend to the NSR, noting that two Memorandums of Understanding were signed last year to facilitate development of both routes.

Shorter Routes and Economic Benefits

India views the Arctic route as an appealing alternative due to its shorter distances, enhanced safety features, and commercial viability. Utilizing the NSR could reduce travel time to most European ports by approximately two weeks and cut shipping distances by up to 40% compared to the Suez Canal route, which has faced increased risks due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Azamat Khochuev, director of the Department for the Development of the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic at Rosatom, reported that cargo movement between Russia and China through the NSR has already exceeded five million tons this year.

China’s Sea Legend Shipping is set to launch its first regular service to Europe via the NSR this month, operating seven vessels from August to October. South Korea is also prioritizing development of cargo traffic along the route as a strategic national objective.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.