NSR Shipping Traffic – Activities in October 2020

In October, there is a decrease in the shipping activity on the NSR. Although the number of voyages and ships involved in the work is large compared to October 2019 or 2018, nevertheless, relative to September, it is clear that the summer navigation period is ending. This is especially noticeable due to the reduction in the number of passages between ports within the NSR: if in September there were 207 such voyages, then in October only 79. The number of voyages from the ports of the NSR to other ports outside the water area also noticeably increased. In most cases, this is due to the fact that vessels with ice class below Arc 4 leave the waters of the Northern Sea Route in accordance with their permits issued by the Administration.

Excluding such traditionally active ports of the NSR as Sabetta, Mys Kamennyy, Dudinka, there were many voyages to Pevek in October (16 arrivals), which is also quite typical for the summer season as a whole, and unusually many (14 arrivals) to Kharasavey. These are mainly ships with general cargo and tugs. All this activity is connected with the development of the Kharasaveyskoye gas condensate field.

Kharasaveyskoye is the second, after Bovanenkovskoye, a key field in the Yamal gas production center created by Gazprom. The field is mainly onshore, partly in the Kara Sea. In terms of gas reserves – about 2 trillion cubic meters – it belongs to the category of unique. Gas production at the Kharasaveyskoye field will begin in 2023, the project level of production from the Cenomanian-Aptian deposits is 32 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The development project of the Kharasaveyskoye field is planned for 108 years – gas will be produced until 2131. The Cenomanian-Aptian deposits are the primary development target. Provision is made for the construction of production gas wells, a complex gas treatment unit, a booster compressor station, transport and energy infrastructure. Horizontal wells for offshore development will be drilled from the shore. (Source: https://www.gazprom.ru/)

The number of transits remained a large figure – 19 voyages in October. It is noteworthy that almost a third of the total is belonged to transits from Canada to China and South Korea (5 bulk carriers from Nunavut and 1 tanker from Montreal). Only two transits went from European ports (both from Denmark), and in the opposite direction – from China, South Korea and Vietnam to Europe – 4 transits. The rest of the transit departed from Russian ports and one began high in the Arctic (the voyage of icebreaker “50 let Pobedy”). “UHL Frontier” vessel was the fastest to overcome the NSR – in 6.2 days, the longest was – the ship “Callisto” – 13.8 days.

Transits on the NSR in October 2020
№	Vessel name	Departure port	Departure date	Arrival port	Arrival date	Av. speed on NSR (knots)
1	Golden Strength	Nakhodka	26.09.2020	Murmansk	16.10.2020	13.0
2	Tian You	Lianyungang	25.09.2020	Emden	19.10.2020	13.7
3	50 let Pobedy	Arctic Ocean	20.10.2020	Murmansk	29.10.2020	9.1
4	Yaroslav Mudryy	Arkhangelsk	12.10.2020	Telichiki	28.10.2020	10.8
5	UHL Falcon	Nantong	25.09.2020	Rotterdam	23.10.2020	13.5
6	Golden Strength	Murmansk	21.10.2020	Tianjin	17.11.2020	12.7
7	Tian Hui	Skagen	02.10.2020	Qingdao	28.10.2020	11.8
8	UHL Frontier	Aalborg	12.10.2020	Taichung	06.11.2020	14.6
9	Sarmat	P.-Kamchatskiy	08.10.2020	Varandey	27.10.2020	9.1
10	Danzigergracht	Busan	29.09.2020	Gavle	23.10.2020	15.0
11	Nordic Odin	Nunavut	29.09.2020	Lanshan	04.11.2020	8.9
13	Vitus Bering	Nunavut	30.09.2020	Zhanjiang	04.11.2020	11.8
13	Nordic Oshima	Nunavut	27.09.2020	Ningbo	05.11.2020	9.3
14	UHL Focus	Phu My	11.10.2020	Aagotnes	12.11.2020	12.8
15	Olimpiyskiy Prospect	Nakhodka	19.10.2020	Murmansk	09.11.2020	11.2
16	Admiral Shmidt	Nunavut	08.10.2020	Ningbo	14.11.2020	13.6
17	Golden Pearl	Murmansk	27.10.2020	Caofeidian	20.11.2020	12.3
18	Callisto	Montreal	17.09.2020	Busan	03.11.2020	7.8
19	Nordic Olympic	Nunavut	10.10.2020	Pyeongtaek	15.11.2020	11.3