The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the primary Arctic shipping lane and a key maritime corridor. Making the NSR an efficient sea passage linking Europe, Russia and the Asia-Pacific region is one of the strategic goals pursued by the Russian nuclear corporation. Here is how the Arctic is changing global logistics and why Central Asian nations are increasingly looking north.
The Northern Sea Route is the shortest passage between Europe and the Asia Pacific, spanning approximately 5,600 kilometers. Shipping cargo via the NSR is 15–20 days faster, meaning 30–40% shorter, than via conventional southern routes. This also avoids congestion and piracy risks, making it a secure and reliable transport corridor.
In 2018, Rosatom became the sole operator of the NSR infrastructure. Since then, the Russian nuclear corporation has been overseeing its development, including building nuclear icebreakers, expanding port infrastructure, ensuring navigation safety, and maintaining regular shipping operations. In association with Rosatom, Russian authorities have launched a federal project to develop the Greater Northern Sea Route—a transport corridor stretching from Saint Petersburg and Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.
Rosatom adheres to international environmental standards and sustainable practices in developing NSR shipping. Regular environmental surveys confirm compliance with regulations, demonstrating that economic activity and navigation in the Arctic remain environmentally safe.
For much of the year, the Arctic Ocean is icebound, requiring icebreaker escorts for safe navigation. Russia is the world’s only country that has a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, operated by Rosatom’s subsidiary, Atomflot.
In December 2024, the world’s only nuclear icebreaker fleet celebrated its 65th anniversary. It now comprises eight vessels, including the new Project 22220 Yakutia— the most powerful icebreaker in existence, capable of breaking through ice up to three meters thick. Four more nuclear icebreakers are currently under construction.
Global interest in the NSR is growing. To boost international transit and freight traffic on the Northern Sea Route, Rosatom is expanding partnerships worldwide.
In 2024, demand for the NSR shipping surged, with cargo traffic reaching 37.9 million tonnes, up by 1.6 million tonnes from the previous year. A record 92 transit voyages moved over 3 million tonnes of goods, nearly 1.5 times more than in 2023. That same year, the largest container ship in the NSR history—294 meters long— completed the journey in under six days. In September 2024, Belarus received its first-ever shipment delivered via the NSR from Shanghai.
The first voyage of Rosatom’s Icebreaker of Knowledge expedition also drew global attention. This scientific and educational mission brought together experts and schoolchildren from multiple countries, including Kazakhstan.
As noted by Irina Strelnikova, an associate professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, Russia is a key transit partner for Central Asia, handling one-third of the region’s foreign trade. Major routes include the Northern Railway Corridor and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
Potential integration between the NSR and the North–South Transport Corridor could unlock new opportunities for the region.
Russia and Kazakhstan continue strengthening ties: trade between Russia and Kazakhstan has grown 1.5-fold over the past four years, reaching USD 28 billion in 2024. In this context, development of the NSR is crucial for both nations.
Photo by: Anna Nikolaichuk, Nikita Boev, FESCO
