Arctic Shipping on the Northern Sea Route in Deep Freeze? Economic factors, such as reduced bunker fuel prices and slowing demand for commodities, are the primary reasons for reduced shipping traffic along Russia’s Northern Sea Route, according to research presented by Arctic shipping experts at Bodø’s High North Dialogue conference. Higher amounts of summer sea ice during 2014 and 2015, on the other hand, only play a minor role. What does this mean for the future prospects of Arctic shipping?