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Maritime Register of Shipping has potential of cooperation with China in Arctic — expert

The Northern Sea Route now becomes a promising area of the Russian-Chinese cooperation, and Chinese businesses have been building up work on this route, Sergey Kulikov stressed

SHANGHAI, September 18. /TASS Correspondent Andrey Popov/. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping has the professional expertise to cooperate actively with Chinese companies on the Northern Sea Route, the classification society's CEO Sergey Kulikov said in an interview with TASS.

"The Register is a recognized expert and a global leader in classification and technical monitoring of vessels designed to operate in difficult ice conditions, including the Northern Sea Route," he said. "The prospects for cooperation with Chinese companies are quite wide - from classification and technical support of projects for the new Arctic fleet to capabilities assessment of ships that are already in operation."

The Register's ice classes regulations are based on the unique practical experience of the Russian Arctic shipping, he continued. "The Russian icebreaking fleet has been built and operates successfully for decades in compliance with the Register's requirements, and competencies of our specialists have been used in development of national and international standards for navigation in polar waters," he said.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) now becomes a promising area of the Russian-Chinese cooperation, and Chinese businesses have been building up work on this route, he stressed. "In August 2026, the New Shipping Line vessel delivered 502 containers with automotive components from China to Murmansk, and on return voyage it took 26,400 tons of potash fertilizers for Southeast Asian countries," the official said. "The company has also announced plans to expand transportation along NSR and to use Arctic-class container ships."

"As cargo traffic increases, the demand for specialized fleet of high ice classes will be growing like the demand in the efficient use of existing vessels," the Register's CEO said. "Here, the Registry has specific technical solutions."

The Northern Sea Route is a shipping route and the main transportation link in the Russian Arctic. It runs along Russia's northern shores through the Arctic Ocean seas from the Kara Gate Strait to Providence Bay. The route is 5,600 km long.

About the Register

The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping has been successfully operating in China since 2003. The city of Tianjin was the entry point to the Chinese market. During repair of ships, the Register carries out technical supervision: it reviews technical solutions, monitors repair operations and equipment replacement, participates in necessary inspections and tests. In 2014, the classification society established a branch office in Shanghai. On September 16, an office was opened in Zhoushan City (eastern Zhejiang Province).

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