One of the important Arctic ports along the Northern Sea Route is the village of Provideniya, which is located on the Chukchi Peninsula. It lies on the shore of the same-name bay in the Bering Sea. Sea cargo transportation to the port of Provideniya has been carried out for about a hundred years. Cargoes for ships that cruise all year round in the Far North are consolidated here.
The port covers the terminals of the village of Provideniya, as well as Lavrentiya and Uelen. In 1937, it was here that the center was formed, where the sea and air routes crossed in the east of Chukotka. At that time, the Northern Sea Route was formed and the port in this bay was an important point for ships that carried out sea transportation through Provideniya. Here the ships stopped for repairs, refueling, collected caravans, which went with icebreakers’ support. The port is actually at the junction of the Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.
Sea transportation to Provideniya proved to be very convenient: there is enough depth in the bay and heavy-tonnage vessels can enter it. Geographical position protects Provideniya from the barren wind, in addition, there is an ice border here. Thus, the port actually became the eastern gate of the Arctic, like Kara Gates in the west.
A convenient port has been built here not least because the Bering Sea is the last water area that ships pass when they reach the shores of North America. This factor plays a strategic role.
Transportation to Provideniya is performed by sea and air, from the airport on the other side of the bay. About thirty years ago, the berths in the port were reconstructed, a bunker was built, warehouses were repaired and steel barges — lighters started to come. Now it is officially called Provideniya seaport. It has the longest navigation among all Arctic ports: ships can enter the bay from May to January. In winter, the icebreaker fleet of the port supports incoming ships.
Shipping of cargoes to Provideniya is a demanded service. Cargo berths accept coal, timber produced in Kamchatka. Oil from seaside ports and general cargoes from other northern cities are brought here, as well as scrap metal and building materials — sand and crushed stone. Logistics to Provideniya is carried out by making a transport plan taking into account local routes, delivery via Alaska is also possible. Provideniya port is connected with the ports of Anadyr and other coastal settlements of Chukotka.
The fleet of Provideniya port consists of cargo ships, tugs, passenger and harbor ships. For unloading, the port is equipped with crawler loaders, forklift trucks, fuel tanks, open and closed warehouses. Delivery from Provideniya by sea can be carried out more than 200 days a year — this port often serves as a trans-shipment base for the delivery of goods from the European part of Russia to Asia or America by the Northern Sea Route.
