Consider the following statements regarding the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as an Arctic shipping corridor:

Statements

1. The NSR runs along the northern coast of Russia, connecting the Kara Strait in the west to the Bering Strait in the east, making it the shortest coastal passage between Western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific.
2. Because the Arctic Ocean is ice-covered for most of the year, continuous icebreaker support is essential for safe navigation on the NSR, and Russia is the only country operating a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet.
3. The NSR reduces shipping distance compared with the conventional Suez Canal–Indian Ocean route primarily because it traverses warmer, open waters that are navigable without special vessels year-round.