Russia says that it's planning to start regular year-round shipping along the Northern Sea Route in the Arctic in early 2027. 

According to Russian news agency Interfax, preparations for regular eastbound winter trips through the NSR have entered the final stages. Vladimir Panov, head of state nuclear corporation Rosatom’s Arctic Directorate, said the launch would coincide with one of Russia’s largest shippers beginning regular deliveries to Asia along the route, although he did not identify the company.

Read More: Arctic Shipping Ambitions Run into Cold Reality

The nuclear-powered icebreaker Chukotka is also scheduled to enter service early next year, bringing Russia’s fleet of nuclear icebreakers to nine. In the meantime, Russia needs to speed up ship convoys and expand rescue services, communications and medical infrastructure along the route, Panov said.

“From a geopolitical and economic standpoint, the development of the Northern Sea Route has reached an important turning point and is entering a new phase, after which we will be able to speak of the route becoming fully established and operational,” he asserted.

Russia has long used the Arctic region for its shadow fleet of oil tankers and LNG, which has allowed it to evade Western sanctions and ship oil and gas to overseas buyers. However, year-round shipping through the NSR has proven difficult to achieve, given the sea ice coverage that takes hold of the Arctic once the warmer summer months come to a close. Moving forward, Russia believes that additional icebreakers and new Arctic-class vessels will allow for regular eastbound shipments to Asia throughout the year, even in the months where sea ice would normally block shipping traffic.