Azerbaijan-operated oil tanker PRISMA has made its maiden voyage on the Northern Sea Route
According to Reuters, the tanker PRISMA, managed by an Azerbaijani company, is sailing the Northern Sea Route, becoming one of the first tankers to sail along the route dominated by Russian shipping giant Sovcomflot.
The Northern Sea Route is mostly navigated by vessels managed by the Russian company Sovcomflot, which has a total of six vessels this year, OLYMPIYSKY PROSPECT, MOSKOVSKY PROSPECT, NS ARCTIC, SCF BALTICA, ZALIV AMERIKA and GALAXY set sail for different ports in China.
The Cook Islands-flagged tanker PRISMA has an ICE 1C rating and can pass through the Northern Sea Route with icebreaker support. Maritime traffic data showed that the ship was carrying crude oil from Primorsk, Russia, and was destined for Tianjin, China.
Russia aims to boost maritime traffic on the Northern Sea Route, which provides a shorter route for ships sailing from Russia's western ports to Asia, thus offering an alternative route to the Suez Canal.
However, due to the presence of Arctic ice, the Northern Sea Route is very difficult to navigate and is only navigable for four months from July to October. At this time of year, the Arctic ice is not thick enough to make navigation safe.
Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom is responsible for allowing the ships to pass through the Northern Sea Route.
Commodities traders expect oil shipments on the Northern Sea Route to increase this year, but they also stress that it is more expensive to transport oil through the route than through the Suez Canal. Ships require additional permits as well as icebreaker support to pass the Northern Sea Route. Traders believe China is the only economically viable destination to transport oil via this route.
The Northern Sea Route is mostly navigated by vessels managed by the Russian company Sovcomflot, which has a total of six vessels this year, OLYMPIYSKY PROSPECT, MOSKOVSKY PROSPECT, NS ARCTIC, SCF BALTICA, ZALIV AMERIKA and GALAXY set sail for different ports in China.
The Cook Islands-flagged tanker PRISMA has an ICE 1C rating and can pass through the Northern Sea Route with icebreaker support. Maritime traffic data showed that the ship was carrying crude oil from Primorsk, Russia, and was destined for Tianjin, China.
Russia aims to boost maritime traffic on the Northern Sea Route, which provides a shorter route for ships sailing from Russia's western ports to Asia, thus offering an alternative route to the Suez Canal.
However, due to the presence of Arctic ice, the Northern Sea Route is very difficult to navigate and is only navigable for four months from July to October. At this time of year, the Arctic ice is not thick enough to make navigation safe.
Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom is responsible for allowing the ships to pass through the Northern Sea Route.
Commodities traders expect oil shipments on the Northern Sea Route to increase this year, but they also stress that it is more expensive to transport oil through the route than through the Suez Canal. Ships require additional permits as well as icebreaker support to pass the Northern Sea Route. Traders believe China is the only economically viable destination to transport oil via this route.
