The Northern Sea Route: Oil Transportation Alternative for Current Sea Lanes of Communication?

• Main Authors: Vlček, Tomáš, Bodišová, Ľubica, Vencourová, Žaneta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Masaryk University, International Institute of Political Science 2019
• Subjects: Northern Sea Route; Russian Federation; Maritime transportation; Oil; Arctic Council; Arctic; Lanes
• Online Access: https://czechpolsci.eu/article/view/34973

This paper deals with the Northern Sea Route, the Russian seaway, and its potential for maritime oil transport. The main objective is to determine if the Northern Sea Route might serve as an alternative to the current Sea Lanes of Communication used for maritime oil transport. It is concluded the route is not a suitable alternative to the current Sea Lanes of Communication, especially in light of the geography of oil production and consumption, as well as economic factors, legislative issues, and the undeveloped state of infrastructure. The Russian Federation, however, envisions the route as the next maritime highway.