The Northern Sea Route along Russia’s north coast is projected to be more passable than the Northwest Passage, located above Alaska and Canada, in the short term. But as the decades wear on, both may be feasible for more months out of the year, with a trans-polar route in international waters possibly coming into play for the largest of ice-hardened ships.
As Alaska continues to struggle with jumpstarting construction on a massive natural gas pipeline project, Russia is marching ahead with plans to tap its own Arctic gas reserves.