The Northern Sustainable Development Forum was held in Yakutsk from November 26 to 28, 2025. During the forum, a highly interesting session was held on Northern Delivery as the Foundation for the Security of Russia’s Northern Regions and Arctic Zone.
Following the session, "Northern Delivery as the Foundation for the Security of Russia’s Northern Regions and Arctic Zone," participants backed a number of important initiatives aimed at the comprehensive development of the region's transport infrastructure.
Firstly, the active development of the Russian Arctic Zone (RAZ) and the Northern Sea Route (NSR) will lead to an exponential increase in freight traffic across all modes of transport. Considering the natural and climatic degradation of the existing road and route network, the high dependence on weather factors, and the significant costs of construction and repair, a qualitative shift is necessary in freight transportation technologies, leveraging low-pressure tires and autonomous driving. Given the foregoing, additional research must be conducted, aimed at the development, application, and design of highly efficient transport systems based on the operation of all-terrain amphibious vehicles, as well as ground-effect vehicles (ekranoplans), aerosleds, specialized aircraft, and other modern high-mobility transport vehicles. Furthermore, it is also necessary to develop a state program for the road transport system in the RAZ, followed by the decomposition of its objectives into sectoral and regional development plans.
Secondly, there is a need to conduct interdisciplinary channel research aimed at establishing a stable navigable artery. This artery will serve as a core element for developing freight transportation in the Arctic Zone, thereby enhancing the transport accessibility of settlements, securing the population's needs for food, consumer goods, and services, and promoting the area's industrial growth and economic development.
Thirdly, it is necessary to develop and pilot a unified system for the integrated management of the hydrological and fluvial processes of the Lena River along the stretch from Yakutsk to the Lena River Delta/Mouth. This involves integrating a hydrodynamic modeling module for hydrological and channel processes into the channel management system, with the aim of forecasting negative trends and justifying preventative hydraulic engineering measures.
Fourthly, a comprehensive set of hydrological studies must be conducted to analyze the modern hydrological and fluvial processes in the estuarine sections of the northern rivers Yana, Indigirka, and Kolyma. This research aims to increase the guaranteed depths in the navigation channels (bar cuts) leading to the river ports located near the river mouths: Nizhneyansk, Chokurdakh, and Chersky.
Implementing these measures will significantly improve transport accessibility for the regions of the Far North and the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. It will ensure the reliable supply of essential goods and services to the population, create conditions for the territories’ further socio-economic development, and enhance the level of national security.