As a result of a recent conflict with Turkey, Russia has planned to develop a transportation system on the Northern Sea Route, since the Black Sea route initially used for commercial purposes is no longer deemed safe for Russia-EU trade, according to the Journal of Commerce.
Read: Russia Plans Artic Route amid Thaw
It was previously reported that Russia was planning an Arctic shipping route in a bid to significantly cut costs and lessen transport times.
Technical Paper: The Future of Arctic Shipping
This news came despite reports that an Arctic shipping route would not be feasible until at least 2040 due to treacherous sailing conditions.
Chinese state-owned shipping line Cosco is also looking into the viability of commercial shipping in the Arctic region and is currently exploring navigation through the signing of an agreement with the American Bureau of Shipping.