Northern Sea Route to Benefit Europe, Northeast Asia – Korean Association
/ Go to the mediabankThe icebreaker Admiral Makarov in the Eastern Bosphorus strait departing for the summer shipping season on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in the eastern part of the Arctic. 
/ Go to the mediabank
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) – More shipping via the Northern Sea Route will benefit many regions, including Northeast Asia and Europe, Subeom Choi, secretary general of the Korea Arctic Shipping Association, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. “The Northern Sea Route offers potential benefits to multiple regions. Russia, as the Arctic coastal state, benefits directly through resource exports. Northeast Asian economies — South Korea, China, and Japan — stand to gain from shorter transit distances, reduced shipping costs, and supply chain diversification. European importers may also benefit from more resilient trade connections,” Choi said. In 2024, the total volume of cargo transported via the Northern Sea Route set a new record of 39.9 million tonnes, while transit cargo rose sharply by 46% year-on-year. More maritime freight via the Arctic shipping route may help stabilize global energy flows but it is unlikely to fundamentally shift oil and gas markets, he added. “By lowering transport costs and offering alternative routes, it can help to stabilize energy trade flows, especially during disruptions at traditional chokepoints,” Choi noted. Cooperation between Russia and South Korea on Arctic shipping is possible, but concrete actions will depend on the sanctions environment, Subeom Choi said.”The Korean government announced in August 2024 that it will launch pilot operations on the Arctic shipping routes beginning in 2026. This demonstrates strong policy interest, but private companies remain cautious due to geopolitical uncertainties, high insurance costs, and uncertain long-term demand … Cooperation with Russia in principle is possible, but any concrete steps will be influenced by the broader sanctions environment and international compliance frameworks,” Choi said.There are “natural complementarities” between Russian and South Korean businesses, he added. Russia has vast resources and Arctic ports, while South Korea holds expertise in LNG carrier construction, ice-class vessel design, port operations and digital logistics.”These synergies suggest opportunities for cooperation in areas such as specialized shipbuilding, port modernization, and logistics services. However, the extent to which these can be realized depends on international regulatory conditions. If circumstances permit, Korean companies could expand their role in the Northern Sea Route’s development,” Choi said.The South Korean government should establish communication channels with Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom to allow Korean businesses to contribute to the Northern Sea Route project, Dr. Subeom Choi said.”We have to communicate with Rosatom for cooperation with Korean private companies … It is very difficult for a private company to get any kind of direct connection [with Rosatom]. So that is why the government should establish a communication channel with Russia, especially Rosatom,” Choi said.He praised South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for having a “very strong” Arctic policy and expressed hope that Lee would reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of the year.”This is the only time for planning for next years. Only the Korean side, the Korean government, even the private companies … they do not communicate with their Russian counterparts. Yet. I think that around the end of this year, they will communicate with the Russian government for business cooperation in the Arctic Ocean,” Choi added.The use of nuclear-powered vessels is not only feasible but also desirable for Arctic shipping, as they leave a smaller environmental footprint compared to fossil-fuel-powered ones, Subeom Choi stressed.”Conventional fossil-fuel-powered vessels generate carbon emissions, black carbon deposits, and underwater noise, all of which can negatively affect Arctic ecosystems. By contrast, nuclear-powered vessels emit zero carbon during operation and substantially reduce airborne pollutants (IMO, 2024). From this perspective, nuclear propulsion is not only feasible but also a desirable pathway for sustainable Arctic navigation,” Choi said.The Russian Arctic fleet has been using nuclear-powered icebreakers for decades, while South Korea is actively working to develop small modular reactors for maritime use, aiming to commercialize them in the coming years, he added.”Considering the pressing need to decarbonize global shipping, the expansion of nuclear-powered vessels in the Arctic should be viewed as both realistic and forward-looking — balancing environmental responsibility with reliable and efficient operations on the Northern Sea Route,” Choi said.The highest safety standards, transparent governance and robust waste management should also be in place for nuclear propulsion, he added.The 10th edition of the Eastern Economic Forum is taking place in Russia’s Vladivostok from September 3 to 6. Sputnik is the general media partner of the forum.
WorldNorthern Sea Route Shipping Growth Depends on Russian LNG, Icebreakers – AssociationYesterday, 15:43 GMT
