ST. PETERSBURG, December 8. /TASS/. About 40 voyages of bulk vessels between Arkhangelsk and Shanghai along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are planned for 2024, the Arkhangelsk Region's Governor's aide on the Arctic development Dmitry Yurkov told the Arctic: Present and Future international forum.

"While this year we've had one regular voyage, for the coming year we and the Chinese party are planning they will be up to 40. The cargo from China will be cars, spare parts and consumer goods. Thus, NSR's breakthrough in Arkhangelsk has been achieved," he said.

In early October, the first vessel carrying lumber departed from Arkhangelsk sailing to China along the Northern Sea Route. "The one-way voyage was 22 days long. <...> The Chinese shipowner and shippers have appreciated this great event. The voyage did not use icebreaker services. Thus, we are starting to make voyages regular. This would mean the total traffic [will grow], this would mean jobs. These transit voyages will only develop both NSR and Arkhangelsk," the official added.

The Northern Sea Route is the shortest waterway between Russia's European part and the Far East. The distance between the Kara Gate and Providence Bay is about 5,600 km. Noteworthy, it is located completely within Russia's territorial sea and exclusive economic zone. Shipping terms for deliveries from East Asia to Western Europe may be 40% shorter than for alternative routes.

The 13th international forum Arctic: Today and the Future is running in St. Petersburg from December 7 to 8. The forum is organized by the interregional non-governmental organization Association of Polar Explorers with the support and participation of the Federation Council, State Duma, and the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant ministries and agencies. The MMC Norilsk Nickel is the forum’s general partner, and the VTB Bank is the event's official sponsor. TASS is the forum's general information partner.