LNG Tanker Completes First Winter Passage of Russia’s Melting Northern Sea Route – The Energy Mix
Stretching more than 5,550 kilometres from the Kara Sea off the north
coast of Russia to the Bering Strait, the Northern Sea Route has long
been known to be the shortest passage between Europe and Asia, but shipping potential was limited by the fact that the route became blocked by thick ice in winter.
coast of Russia to the Bering Strait, the Northern Sea Route has long
been known to be the shortest passage between Europe and Asia, but shipping potential was limited by the fact that the route became blocked by thick ice in winter.
But the recent experimental voyage of the Christophe de Margerie,
an LNG tanker that left Russia fully loaded in early January bound for
China, has proven its viability. The ship returned to its home port last
week, this time accompanied by the nuclear-powered 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker (no icebreaker was needed on the trip out).
The voyage was the second in the past 10 months for the tanker, which
made the identical trip in May, a month earlier into spring than
normal.
