Context: India and Russia are collaborating on the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) initiative to streamline cargo transport between Indian and Russian ports in the Far East Region.

About Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

• It aims to significantly reduce cargo transport time between Indian and Russian ports.

• The EMC is a proposed sea route between the Indian port of Chennai and the Russian port of Vladivostok.

• The corridor is estimated to bring down transportation time between Indian and Russian ports in the Far East Region by up to 40 percent (24 days from the current 40 days).

• The Chennai-Vladivostok Sea route under EMC spans about 5,600 nautical miles and can be covered in 10 to 12 days by large container ships.

• The present trade route between Mumbai, India, and St. Petersburg, Russia, covers a distance of 8,675 nautical miles.

• The EMC will cover a distance of about 5,600 nautical miles, which is significantly shorter than the current route via the Suez Canal.

• Once complete, EMC will take 24 days, down from presently over 40 days, to transport goods from India to Far East Russia.

• For India, it will provide a shorter and more efficient route to access the markets of the Far East, such as China and Japan.

Key Facts About Vladivostok

• Vladivostok is a major city in Russia, located in the Far East of the country.

• It is located on the Golden Horn Bay, north of North Korea, and a short distance from Russia’s border with China.

• It is the largest port on Russia’s Pacific coast, and home to the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.

• It is the eastern railhead of the legendary Trans Siberian Railway, which connects the Far East of Russia to the capital Moscow, and further west to the countries of Europe. 

• At Vladivostok’s massive port, shipping and commercial fishing are the main commercial activities.

About Sagarmala Program

• India's Sagarmala Programme includes 802 projects with an investment of over $65 billion by 2035.

Alternative Transport Routes

• India and Russia are exploring alternative routes, such as the Northern Sea Route, in addition to EMC, to enhance maritime cooperation.