The navigation through the Northern Sea Route will operate ALL YEAR ROUND
“Freight navigation along the entire length of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) will become year-round from 2024.”
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novakwrote about this on January 25 in an article in the Energy Policy magazine.
Comment: As I understand it, this was a consequence of two factors - global warming and the increase in Russia in the number of linear nuclear icebreakers capable of escorting ships even in winter.