Russia Assembles Unprecedented Arctic Oil Convoy to Bypass Global Shipping Hotspots

Russia has assembled an unprecedented fleet of oil tankers in the Arctic as it accelerates crude exports to Asia via the Northern Sea Route, with vessels carrying roughly 8 million barrels of oil already transiting or waiting to enter the ice-covered shipping lane; more than half the volume moved during last year’s entire summer navigation season.

More than a dozen Suezmax, Aframax and Medium Range tankers were either underway along the route or gathered in the Kara Sea on Aug. 3, likely awaiting nuclear icebreaker escort or improved ice conditions before continuing east.

The buildup is unprecedented. During last year’s entire