This book explains Russian policies for developing the Northern Sea Route (NSR), analysing Moscow’s public policy and national and geopolitical considerations in developing national maritime transport routes.
The state’s organisational structure and regulatory framework are analysed to provide a comprehensive review of the participation of the regions of the Russian Arctic in the development of the NSR and the role of public-private partnership mechanisms. Despite Western sanctions, Russia has continued its steadfast focus on developing the NSR, modifying its policies to keep its flagship project in the Arctic on track. This book assesses whether these goals are viable.
It will be of interest to policymakers, researchers, and scholars specializing in the Arctic, shipping and the NSR.
The state’s organisational structure and regulatory framework are analysed to provide a comprehensive review of the participation of the regions of the Russian Arctic in the development of the NSR. Despite Western sanctions, Russia has continued its steadfast focus on developing the NSR.
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
1: Introduction
2: Transport policy in political science research
3: Public policy for the development of maritime transport routes
4: The policy of the USSR for the development of the Northern Sea Route
5: The geopolitical and geo-economic significance of the Northern Sea Route
6: Organizational structure of Russian public policy for the development of
the NSR
7: Regulatory framework for the development policy of the NSR
8: The role of the regions of the Russian Arctic in the development of the
NSR
9: Russias public-private partnership for the development of the NSR
10: Russias engagement with foreign countries and businesses for the
development of the NSR
11: Russian policies for search and rescue and maritime safety on the
Northern Sea Route
12: Assessment of Russian policies for the NSR
Appendices
Appendix A: Overview of Plan-2022: development of the infrastructure of the
NSR for the period up to 2035
Appendix B: Portfolio of orders for ships of the Arctic fleet, 2022
Appendix C: Projects of the regions of the Russian Arctic related to the
development of the NSR, in accordance with the Plan-2019
Appendix D: Projects of the regions of the Russian Arctic related to the
development of the NSR, in accordance with the Plan-2022
Appendix E: Main projects for the development of the infrastructure of the
NSR using PPP mechanisms
Appendix F: The dependence of the Russian Arctic fleet shipbuilding programme
on foreign shipyards, 2022
Appendix G: Status of Arctic transport fleet shipbuilding
Appendix H: Influence of Western sanctions on Russian projects linked to the
NSR
Appendix I: Assessment of transport-logistics support to key projects of the
Plan-2022
Appendix J: SWOT analysis of Russian policies for the NSR
Index
Jawahar Bhagwat (
[email protected]) is an Associate Professor at the Northern Arctic Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation (RF). He is the lead author of the book "Evolution of Indias Polar Policies", published online in 2025. His research work focuses on the NSR, Arctic geopolitics, and Indias national security. Jawahar holds a Candidate of Political Sciences (Ph.D.) from Saint Petersburg State University and a Ph.D. (History) from the University of Mumbai. Captain Jawahar Bhagwat is a veteran submariner of the Indian Navy with over 25 years of service, including the command of a nuclear submarine and two Shishumar (Type 209)-class submarines.
