Russia agreed to train‘Indian seafarers’in Arcticand Polar waters

Recently, Russia has agreed to train Indian seafarers in polar and arctic watersin far eastern Russian port,as to widen their maritime cooperation including possibility of usage of new transport corridors like the Northern Sea Route as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor.

About the agreement:

• During the meeting, both the countries discussed topic including maritime communication between India and Russia to widen maritime cooperation including possibility of usage of new transport corridors like the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai.
• They also agreed to train Indian seafarers in Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute, which is equipped with simulator training facilities, in Vladivostok.
• The trading and transportation of potential commodities such as coking coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas was also proposed.

What is the North Sea Route (NSR)?

• The NSR, the shortest shipping route for freight transportation between Europe and countries of the Asia-Pacific region, straddles the Four Seas (Barents, Kara, Laptev and East Siberian Sea) of the Arctic Ocean.
• Running to 5,600 km, the Route begins at the boundary between the Barents and the Kara seas (Kara Strait) and ends in the Bering Strait (Provideniya Bay).
• It offers potential distance savings of up to 50% compared to traditional routes through the Suez or Panama Canals.
• The 2021 Suez Canal Blockage heightened interest in the NSR as an alternative trade route.

India’s Interests in Arctic region:

• For Energy security: The region has rich deposits of coal, gypsum and diamonds and also substantial reserves of zinc, lead, placer gold and quartz.
  • The Arctic can therefore potentially address India’s energy security needs and deficiency of strategic and rare earth minerals.
• India in ‘Arctic council’: Initiatives like the Himadri research station, multi-sensor moored observatory, and northernmost atmospheric laboratory showcase India's commitment to Arctic research.
  • Becoming an observer-state of the Arctic Council in 2013 strengthened India's Arctic presence.
• Research and Development:The study of the Arctic is critical to Indian scientists. In line, India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and opened the Himadri research base in the Svalbard archipelago (Norway) and has been actively engaging in research there ever since.

Why India seeks for Russian support?

• The Arctic's icebound nature necessitates icebreaking assistance for safe navigation along the NSR. Russia boasts the world's only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, ensuring year-round operation.

• With Russia's ambitious plans to enhance the NSR's cargo traffic, its nuclear icebreaker fleet remains central to the project.

India-Russia Engagements:

• The increasing cargo traffic along the NSR, with a growth rate of approximately 73% during 2018-2022, aligns with India's expanding imports of Russian Crude Oil and coal.
• The NSR's potential as a transit route also suits India's trade-heavy economy.
• The Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC) project offers a shorter and efficient trade route, further boosting India's interest in the NSR.
• Additionally, India seeks to balance China and Russia's potential collective influence over the NSR.