Braving the ice: Yamal LNG and China

摘要

COSCO container ship Yong Sheng was the first merchant vessel to transit the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in September 2013. But its success has not yet brought about a major shift in the Chinese fleet using the NSR as a trading route. IHS Maritime data shows that out of 5,899 ships operated by Chinese companies, only 1,184 (20%) are classified as ice capable, with only five such vessels on order. Only 15, including the Yong Sheng, are classified to the Arc 7 requirement demanded by the Russians for safe transit of the NSR.