What are the advantages of the Northern Sea Route?
By Ali Askari, analyst, especially for “Sangar”
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is the shortest maritime corridor between Europe and Asia. Its use reduces the distance between ports in Northwestern Europe and East Asia by approximately 40 percent compared to the route through the Suez Canal, resulting in significant savings in fuel and transit time.
According to the Rules of Navigation in the Waters of the Northern Sea Route, approved by Resolution No. 1487 of the Government of the Russian Federation on September 18, 2020, a permit-based navigation regime has been established throughout the NSR waters for both Russian and foreign commercial vessels, in accordance with Article 234 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Article 234 of this Convention, dedicated to ice-covered areas, grants special rights to coastal states to “adopt and enforce non-discriminatory laws and regulations for the prevention, reduction, and control of marine pollution from vessels in ice-covered areas within the limits of the exclusive economic zone.”
The permit-based navigation system introduced by these Rules is designed solely to ensure maritime safety and environmental protection. Its primary goal is to monitor whether vessels meet the technical and operational requirements for navigation in Arctic waters. The issued permit essentially confirms that the vessel is capable of safely navigating the NSR routes and complies with all safety and environmental protection standards.
The organization of commercial vessel navigation within the NSR waters — including the issuance, suspension, renewal, termination, and amendment of navigation permits — is managed by the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. Taking into account hydrometeorological, ice, and navigational conditions, Rosatom determines the positioning of the icebreaker fleet in the NSR area, develops navigation routes, and ensures icebreaker escort services and vessel guidance along approved routes.
The Rules of Navigation in the Waters of the Northern Sea Route do not apply to foreign warships or other government vessels operating for non-commercial purposes. For such vessels, a special permit system regulates entry into internal maritime waters of the NSR area, as set out in Article 14.3 of the Federal Law of July 31, 1998. Under this article, a permit must be requested through diplomatic channels no later than 90 days before the intended entry. Such entry must be carried out according to the designated route and parameters specified in the permit, including the mandatory requirement for pilotage.
The law also limits the number of foreign military or state vessels that may simultaneously be present in the internal waters of the NSR without entering a seaport, naval base, or point of deployment — no more than one at a time.
The established centralized management system of the Northern Sea Route helps reduce navigational risks and maintain the orderly flow of maritime traffic. This contributes to strengthening trust among foreign states and expanding international cooperation with the Russian Federation.
Joint projects between Russia and Norway on the study of the Barents Sea, as well as cooperation with several other states, confirm Russia’s commitment to the lawful use of the NSR and demonstrate the country’s readiness to resolve disputes within the legal framework. At the same time, Russia views compliance by other states with its national legislation in the NSR waters as a matter of national security.
