The Euro-Asian Container Transit (EACT) Project: what is it?
In 2023, representatives of various companies were present at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, where they discussed the Euro-Asian Container Transit (EACT) Project. Why do they believe that this project will expand opportunities for global trade between Asia and Europe? This article discusses potential advantages and features of this transit.
What are the route peculiarities?
The EACT became one of the most discussed topics at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in September. The project concept is the creation of the first regular container line to arrange fast transit transportation between the eastern and western parts of Eurasia. The route will run along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
Objectives
The project aims to reduce the carbon footprint by reducing the route length and using special fuels.
In addition, the Euro-Asian project aims to improve the supply chain sustainability. This will yield the following benefits:
● increasing the variability of international trade;
● enabling perishable products to be transported as quickly as possible;
● improving the supply security regardless of transportation conditions.
The project already plans the building of ice-class commercial fleet, improvement of transit hubs and development of new architecture of digital services to automate various processes including product tracking throughout the route.
Routes
Euro-Asian container transit envisages two ports for transshipment:
- Western hub in Belokamenka (Murmansk region) - WTLH.
- Eastern hub in Vladivostok - ETLH.
The total capacity of each container hub will be up to 6 thousand TEUs. The ports will be able to receive up to 10 million tons of cargo annually. Currently, the WTLH and ETLH projects are at the development stage. Engineering surveys are already being conducted, and models of future fleets are being formed.
Environmental considerations
The oceans are still the world's main transportation artery. Up to 80% of all products are shipped by sea. Many participants in Euro-Asian container transit are interested in reduction of the negative impact on the ecosystem. One way to achieve this is to create a new transit to shorten the route length. It is estimated that the launch of the EACT will reduce the carbon footprint of commercial transportation by about 25-38%[1].
Prior to the launch of the Euro-Asian Container Transit, employees of the Center for Maritime Research analyzed the condition of 50 stations located throughout the NSR length. The following is confirmed by test results:
● low concentrations of atmospheric pollution;
● minimum risk of sea water pollution;
● no bottom sediments.
In addition, a program was launched, which enables the arrangement of round-the-clock ship load monitoring on the Euro-Asian route.
The environmental issue is now a priority not only in maritime shipping. Railways also develop and implement solutions to reduce the negative transportation impact on the environment. For example, in 2023, UTLC ERA managed to reduce its carbon footprint down to 72 thousand tons, which is almost 5 times lower as compared with deliveries by sea.
Speed and safety
Euro-Asian container transit is routed through Russian territorial waters. Therefore, the risk of encountering pirates is excluded. The formation of new infrastructure and the creation of the Arctic-class fleet will improve the safety of any-purpose container transportation and reduce the negative transit impact on the ecosystem.
In recent months, the route model and optimum vessel for the route have been developed. Specialists have created a sketch design, tested the hull on open water and under the abundant ice conditions.
Railway transportation is equally safe and reliable. In UTLC ERA, the cargo safety reaches 99.997%.
In addition, all processes are digitalized: the EAEU uses navigation seals and UIS. Additionally, the shipment tracking function was revised. Formerly, only the container number was used for tracking, but now, both the number and the forwarder's sub-code must be entered. The implemented solution improves the security of data provided by customers. As soon as the system receives the required data, it will provide the current location and status, and calculate the expected shipment arrival date.