Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

Current Context : The recent launch of the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime route has cut shipping time and costs, thereby boosting trade between India and Russia in oil, food, and machinery.

About Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)

• The Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC), also known as the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, is a strategic sea route connecting the east coast of India with Russia’s Far East region.
• Aim : to enhance bilateral trade by significantly reducing shipping time and costs between the two nations.
• The EMC spans approximately 5,600 nautical miles(about 10,300 km) between Chennai Port in India and Vladivostok in Russia.
• It traverses several key waterways, including the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, Malacca Straits, Andaman Sea, and the Bay of Bengal.

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.