Stuck tankers test Russia's Arctic shipping plans
Vessel delays in the Vilkitsky Strait reveal persistent ice hazards despite rising cargo volumes on the Northern Sea Route.
By Samir Nasser ·
Sanctioned Russian tankers became trapped in ice within the Vilkitsky Strait in July. The strait sits roughly 55 kilometers wide between the Siberian coast and Bolshevik Island. This location acts as a critical choke point on the Northern Sea Route heading toward China. Assistance from two nuclear icebreakers was days away when the vessels got stuck. Only one tanker succeeded in passing through the ice. The remaining vessels waited up to two weeks. They eventually abandoned the path and took a different route.
This incident challenges the Kremlin's narrative of an open Arctic passage. Moscow promotes the route as a safe alternative to Ukrainian drone attacks and European naval checks. Russian crude oil and liquefied natural gas moved in record volumes this year. Yet conditions remain difficult. Ksenia Vakhrusheva, head of the Arctic project at Bellona, noted that less ice does not equal easier navigation. Melting ice can pack tightly in narrow straits. This blocks ships that lack specific ice class ratings.
President Vladimir Putin recently touted the route's reliability. Speaking at the Vostok Oil launch on the Taimyr Peninsula last month, he cited 37 million tons of cargo moved in 2025. He predicted this figure would almost double by 2030. In 2019, officials targeted 80 million tons by 2024. Actual figures show a more modest reality. The Norway-funded Center for High North Logistics reported about 2 million tons of crude oil shipped by late September. This equals roughly 15 million barrels. Reuters data shows the total reached about 20 million barrels by mid-October. This represents a 50 percent rise on 2025 levels but only 1 percent of Russia's seaborne oil exports.
Tomas Alexa, a senior analyst at Ambrey, called the recent surge a jump from a low base. He said Western sanctions hamper Russia's ability to build and maintain Arctic-capable vessels. Spare parts and construction materials often require routing through third parties. Repair work previously handled by Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch firms is no longer available to Russian operators.
Other nations are testing the route's viability. South Korea reported on October 22 that its first container ship used the Northern Sea Route. Officials praised it as a shortcut to Europe but noted difficult conditions. Large ice floes appeared in the Bering and Vilkitsky straits. China also ran a scheduled container service to Europe along the route for the first time this year.
Catherine Sendak of the Center for European Policy Analysis noted that Russia views much of the Arctic as an inner waterway. Questions remain about potential tolls and services for commercial vessels. She expressed doubt that Moscow currently has good answers. She wondered if Russia might limit access for other actors.
Security concerns in the region are increasing. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas stated on October 21 that the Arctic has become a front line of global power competition. NATO launched its Arctic Sentry mission in February. The United States announced plans last month to expand its military presence in Greenland. Environmental groups warn that more shipping poses risks. Vakhrusheva said oil degrades slowly in cold conditions and can spread over ice. This could accelerate climate change effects. Russia publishes no information on incidents along the route. The area is so remote that no independent group can report on them.
Source: RFE/RL
