Improving the quality of implementation of the container transportation project along the NSR based on the environmental and energy transition agenda

Abstract

The article considers the possibilities of improving the quality of transportation project along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) within the environmental and energy transition agendas. A multiple increase in the cost of container freight in 2019–2021 is considered as an economic incentive to justify the feasibility of a large-scale expansion of transit container traffic along the NSR by 2030–2035 within the Northern Maritime Transit Corridor (NMTC) project. It will require the construction of specialized ice-class ships in compliance with the general emission requirements set by the IMO for new ships, as well as the requirements of the IMO's International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). To ensure the eco-economic efficiency of NSR transit, the need to organize transshipment hubs is also taken into account. The paper provides a generalized assessment of the energy and eco-saving potential of ice-class ships, depending on different types of main fuel and vessel average speed index. The obtained results preliminary evaluate the energy and eco-efficiency of solutions for installing LNG and hythane engines at modern polar ships, including designing specialized bulk container ships. The prominent restrictions on the implementation of the NMTC project in the context of current anti-Russian sanctions, were also considered.