Record Number of Vessels in Transit on Northern Sea Route

The Northern Sea Route set record with the highest number of vessels in transit from Murmansk to another country.   According to Rosatomflot, operator of the nuclear icebreaker fleet, 34 vessels have sailed the Northern Sea Route this year with total cargo of 820 000 tons. Last year, only four vessels sailed through the Northern Sea Route, Rosatomflot reports, according to RIA Novosti.   162 000 dwt “Vladimir Tikhonov” became part of Northern Sea Route record as first super tanker to sail the route while the 75 600 dwt “Sanko Odyssey” became the largest ever bulk carrier to sail the Northern Sea Route.   Furthermore, 15 vessels transported liquid cargo, four refrigerator ships transported salmon, three carried bulk cargo, two vessels transported general cargo and ten vessels sailed in ballast.   Belgium owned tanker “Perseverance” opened the sailing season on June 29. As Barents Observer reported, the 5000 dwt tanker “Vestpils” is currently on its way to the port of Iturup on the Kuril Islands.