Gas carriers turn to the Northern Sea Route

Navigation has begun on the Northern Sea Route. Traditionally, it was opened by gas carriers that carry Yamal LNG to Asia by the shortest route.

Navigation is gaining momentum on the Northern Sea Route, which lasts from June to December. The tanker Georgy Ushakov has already crossed the route and reached the shores of China. The gas carrier carries up to 100 million cubic meters of gas in the form of LNG.

Another tanker, the Vladimir Voronin, is halfway there and has entered the The East Siberian Sea.

According to Glavsevmorput, most of the route is still covered with ice and LNG exports are carried out only by ice-class tankers.

Judging by the AIS data of the vessels, the Vladimir Voronin is unaccompanied by an icebreaker. But two small tankers going to the Russian Pevek are cleared by the icebreaker Vaigach.

The Northern Sea Route is the shortest route to Europe and allows tankers to shorten the route to less than 6 thousand miles. Despite the fact that through Europe, bypassing Africa, the route to Northeast Asia takes almost three times more - 17 thousand miles.

Navigation time along the Northern Sea Route, however, is limited and most of the Yamal LNG supplies are now going to Europe.

Rosatom stated that in 2024, 37.9 million tons were transported along the route — 1.6 million tons more. Kommersant wrote that 35 LNG shipments, or about 2.4 million tons, were shipped directly to the Asian market.