Chinese icebreaker makes port call in Murmansk

The Xue Long 2 set out from the Chinese port city of Qingdao on the 7th July and subsequently set course for the Bering Strait. Following its passage into the Chukchi Sea, the 122 meter long ship is believed to have sailed towards the North Pole.

One and a half month later it sailed into the Kola Bay and moored in a downtown port. Locals in the Russian Arctic city could on the 28th of August see the vessel being assisted by tugs into the harbour area.

The research icebreaker that is owned and managed by the Chinese Polar Institute is on its annual Arctic expedition. The about 100 expedition members take part in research geology and geophysics of the Arctic seabed and conduct investigations of atmospheric, sea ice and marine environments.

But the state-owned vessel is also on a political mission.

Increasing links between Murmansk and Beijing

The visit to Murmansk is the first ever of its kind and comes as relations between Murmansk and Beijing get increasingly intimate.

In May 2023, Murmansk Governor Andrei Chibis paid a visit to Shanghai as part of a major Russian delegation to the China-Russia Business Forum.

During the event, a special emphasis was made on the development of the Northern Sea Route and new joint industries, among them in production and processing of minerals, the governor informed on social media VK.

In September 2023, Chibis welcomed a Chinese business delegation to Murmansk.

“We are entering a new level of partnership with China,” the regional leaders said during the visit. The Chinese businessmen represented port and shipping companies and they were reportedly interested in the development of the Northern Sea Route.

Chinese investment in Arctic 

In August 2024, it became known that the Chinese MCC International Incorporation Ltd will join the development of the Kolmozerskoye lithium resources in the Kola Peninsula.

Beijing is increasingly interested in the Arctic and is building new vessels designed for shipping through the remote and icy waters. In early July this year, Chinese authorities officially commissioned its new icebreaking research vessel,  the Jidi (“Polar”).

At the same time, China is expanding its research activities in the far northern region, including in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Canada, U.S. and Finland form pact to build icebreakers for Arctic, CBC News

Denmark: Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: US, Norwegian forces in Lapland for rapid reinforcement exercise, The Independent Barents Observer

Norway: Oslo looks to Brussels for strengthened security and defence, CBC News 

Russia:Russia to begin artillery firing near Norway’s Grense Jakobselv, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Biden says NATO now stronger than ever with Sweden and Finland, Radio Sweden

United States: White House releases U.S. Arctic strategy implementation plan, Eye on the Arctic