China-Russia collaboration in arctic shipping and maritime engineering

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the past decades, climate change has been affecting the reduction of ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean and thus providing opportunities for the development of commercial navigation. Many countries are becoming increasingly interested in the exploration of opening maritime routes. Initiating the Polar Silk Road (PSR), China aims at the diversification of its trade routes and linking the markets of Asia and Europe within a network of transport and economic corridors. The initiative requires improvement of navigational safety and passability of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and other major lanes in the Arctic seas. In this paper, the authors discuss how China may collaborate with Russia to ensure the development of secure navigable deep-water shipping routes in the Arctic and to partner in the engineering and construction of large-tonnage tankers and icebreakers. The paper presents an overview of the current condition of the shipbuilding industry in Russia in relation to the construction of vessels and marine equipment in such segments as icebreaking, transport, port, and dredging fleet. The authors conclude with a summary of the existing technological, engineering, and economic obstacles and opportunities for China in the light of the establishment of navigable maritime routes in the Arctic Ocean.