Russian authorities are considering Chinese shipyards as places to build its vessels for the Northern Sea Route (NSR). According to preliminary estimates, Russia will need 62 new ships of various classes by 2030 to operate on the Arctic route.
Boris Titov, the Russian president's Special representative for relations with international organizations, announced the negotiations with China. The possible projects include the construction of icebreakers, research vessels, and ice-class cargo ships.
As mk.ru notes, negotiations with China could involve the use of additional production sites to accelerate the renewal of the Arctic fleet.
The need for its expansion is linked to plans to dramatically increase shipping along the Arctic route. In 2025, cargo traffic along the NSR amounted to approximately 37 million tonnes. By 2030, Russian authorities expect to increase it to 70 - 109 million tonnes. At the same time, the country has to expand port capacity, provide icebreaker assistance, and create infrastructure for stable navigation.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
