The transport connections between regions of the European and Cisural North of Russia (water transport)

Water transport traditionally plays an important role in the transport system of Russia, especially in remote and inaccessible regions such as the European and Cisural North of Russia. In the context of underdeveloped road infrastructure, rivers are key transport arteries that ensure the connection between settlements and access to socio-economic resources. Passenger and freight transportations along the basins of the Severnaya Dvina, Pechora, Vychegda, Ob rivers, as well as along the White Sea-Baltic and Volga-Baltic canals, are of particular importance for the life of the local population, as well as for the development of tourism and trade. However, inland water transport faces a number of challenges, such as outdated fleet, seasonality of navigation, reduction of guaranteed dimensions of the ship passage, forced landing and disembarkation of passengers from ships on an unequipped shore, underfunding, lack of investment, etc. The Northern Sea Route and the maritime approaches to it ensure the connection of water transport network of the European and Cisural North of Russia.