Freight traffic along the Northern Sea Route rose by 4.8% between January and November in 2021 versus a year ago, while ship transits over the same period increased by nearly 66%, reported Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot).

The total number of NSR navigation permits issued increased as well. In 2021, the Russian Northern Sea Route Administration issued 1,155 permits for navigation along the NSR, which represents an 18% increase.

LNG and gas condensate exports continued to grow from the largest export terminal in the port of Sabetta, on the Yamal Peninsula, which surpassed the figures for the same period in 2020 by  1.9 percent, amounting to almost 17 million tons.

Through the years, Russia has had high ambitions for the development of the NSR, with President Putin setting a target on transporting 80 million tons by 2024.

(Photo Rosmorrechflot)