Plenary session of the 10th Eastern Economic Forum. Source: Roscongress, Kirill Kazachkov
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced large-scale development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2025). This ambitious project, it is believed, will be key not only for the Far East, but for the entire country and the Eurasian continent as a whole.
Previously, The Arctic Century highlighted this notion in Russian public discourse. After the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, experts and media began to use the word Transarctic. However, it seems that Transarctic doesn’t bear the international context, according to Putin, rather uses the concept of the so-called Big Northern Sea Route. The route will run from St. Petersburg through Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, then along the Northern Sea Route to Vladivostok.
As the head of state noted, interest in this route is developing among both Russian companies operating in the Arctic and foreign carriers. This is not about one-time shipments, but about a stable cargo flow.
Putin believes that the concept of the Transarctic Corridor is broader than the usual Northern Sea Route. According to the President, this is a comprehensive system that integrates sea, rail and road transportation, and will also potentially use the main Siberian rivers—the Ob, Yenisei and Lena.
Demand For Vessels
The development of the Arctic and the development of corridors require the creation of a new fleet. Rosatom is reported to be recording a shortage of vessels, especially tankers, which leads to a sharp increase in freight rates. One of the promising areas is called the construction of unmanned vessels, which might increase the efficiency of existing logistics.
A New Model Of Icebreaker Support
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said that a separate group of icebreakers could be created in the eastern direction to ensure the growing cargo flow. He proposed a transition to a caravan system of movement on a schedule, similar to the “electric train”. This will allow ships to fit into existing caravans, save time and money and increase the competitiveness of transportation.
In 2024, the cargo flow along the NSR amounted to 37.9 million tonnes, and in 2025 its growth is expected to exceed 40 million tonnes. To speed up the construction of the fleet, services are provided for placing orders at shipyards in friendly countries, including China and India.
Additional News On Logistics In Russia
- A transport and logistics centre Artem has begun work in Vladivostok;
- Projects for cooperation with Chinese manufacturers of port equipment are being discussed;
- The officials plan to increase penalties for disruption of deliveries as part of the Northern Delivery in the Russian Arctic zone.