Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

About Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

• The Chennai-Vladivostok Sea Route, also known as the EMC, connects South India with Russia’s Far East region.
• The corridor significantly reduces cargo transit time by up to 16 days and cuts distance by up to 40%, making it a highly efficient trade route.
• The traditional Mumbai-to-St. Petersburg route spans 8,675 nautical miles (16,066 km) and takes over 40 days for cargo transportation. In contrast, the Chennai-Vladivostok route is only 5,647 nautical miles (10,458 km) and takes 24 days, saving approximately 5,608 km in distance.

Route:

• The EMC passes through key waterways, including the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, Malacca Straits, Andaman Sea, and the Bay of Bengal.
• Ports along the route include Dalian, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dhaka, Colombo, and Chennai.

Other Maritime Corridors for India

• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): A 7,200 km multimodal transit route connecting the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and further to Europe via Russia.
  • Includes 13 member countries and offers three routes: Central, Western, and Eastern.
  • In 2024, Russia sent two coal-laden trains to India via the INSTC for the first time.
• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Announced at the G20 Summit 2023, this project connects India, the Middle East, and Europe via rail, road, and maritime links.
  • Includes two corridors: East Corridor (India to the Arabian Gulf) and Northern Corridor (Gulf to Europe).
  • Features electricity cables, hydrogen pipelines, and high-speed data cables for greater regional integration.
• Northern Sea Route (NSR): A 5,600 km Arctic shipping route linking the Barents and Kara Seas to the Bering Strait.
  • Offers transit times up to 50% shorter than traditional routes like the Suez Canal.
  • Gains importance for India due to increased imports of Russian crude oil and coal.

Q1: What are maritime corridors?

Maritime corridors are strategic sea routes established for the efficient transportation of goods, services, and energy resources between countries or regions, enhancing trade connectivity and economic integration.

News: New eastern route cuts down shipping time & costs, promises to boost India-Russia trade | Business News – The Indian Express