Russia To Prioritise Development Of Five Arctic Ports & Three Connecting Rivers

Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev, who oversees the country’s national maritime policy, has stated that the Arctic ports of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Dikson, Tiksi and Pevek are the priority developments to allow the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to become one of Russia’s main transport arteries.

This needs to be carried out in conjunction with the development of Russia’s inland ports and rivers, and especially the Lena, the Ob, the Yenisei, as well the White Sea-Baltic Canal,” he said, stating that “In order to allow the Northern Sea Route to take on the role of one of Russia’s major transport arteries, it is necessary to modernize infrastructure and ensure the development of ports as part of the NSR. The transport connectivity of Russia’s Northwest, Siberia and the Far East will be improved considerably as a result.”

In related news, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been visiting Azerbaijan, has announced that Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and Azerbaijan’s Baku Shipyard are starting construction on river and sea class tankers for transporting petroleum products. He said that “Their usage should allow for markedly increasing the supply of energy resources to global markets, including along the Azov-Black Sea and Caspian Sea routes.”

Russia is also pressing ahead with the redevelopment of numerous inland ports along the border with China to further promote regional infrastructure and trade.