Russia announced on Friday the arrival of a first ship from China via the “Northern Sea Route” linking Asia to Europe via the Arctic, one of Moscow’s great hopes for developing its international trade.
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“Today the first ship arrived in the Kaliningrad region via the Northern Sea Route,” regional governor Anton Alikhanov said in Telegram.
However, he did not provide any information about what cargo it was. Photos released by the Russian official show a container ship named NEWNEW POLAR BEAR.
According to him, the ship left Shanghai via Arkhangelsk (Russia’s Great North) before arriving in Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave at the gates of the EU.
His final destination was St. Petersburg (northwest), the former Russian imperial capital, Mr. Alikhanov said.
Transport companies want to ensure that this route, also known as the Northeast Passage, can be used permanently: “It will be cheaper and faster than via the Suez Canal,” he said.
Moscow hopes that this route through the Arctic, which is navigable due to global warming and melting ice, can in the future compete with the Suez Canal, particularly in hydrocarbon trade.
Russia has been building port infrastructure, liquefied natural gas facilities and icebreakers for years.
But overcoming the extreme conditions of the Arctic remains a major challenge and this route is still far from replacing the Suez Canal.
Russia’s desire to expand trade through this sea route has become even more important for the Kremlin with the adoption of numerous sanctions measures over its attack on Ukraine, which are undermining its trade.