Russia is easing regulations for icebreaker escorts to encourage year-round shipping in the Arctic.

The Russian government has relaxed icebreaker escort requirements for double-acting vessels with ice classes Arc7 and Arc8, allowing them to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the Northern Sea Route year-round. The previous rule only allowed these vessels to navigate independently from July to November, but the updated rules extend this period to include January, June and December. This change may be related to Russia’s plans to begin year-round supplies of LNG to Asia, with routine winter deliveries expected to start in 2024. The operational experience of Arc7 ships has increased confidence in their capabilities and allows for an expansion of the window of independent navigation.

The recent change to the NSR rules continues the progress of expanding the navigation season on the route. For example, in the 2013 revision of the navigation rules, Arc7 ships were prohibited from independent navigation in winter, even in medium ice. Future guidelines could further relax the requirements to accommodate Ice Class Arc6 vessels, affecting Rosneft’s fleet of Arc6 oil tankers for the upcoming Vostok oil project.

Overall, these changes reflect the effects of global warming, the increasing availability of icebreakers for escorts, and the operational experience of experimental transits on the NSR. The maritime industry is closely following developments in Arctic shipping, as the region becomes more accessible due to changing ice conditions.

Source .