As the Arctic ice sheet continues to melt, the possibility of commercial navigation in the Northern Sea Route increases. How to identify the strength and potential level of the port, and promote the development of ports along the Northern Sea Route, is of great significance.Considering the particularity of ports along the Northern Sea Route in Russia, the paper constructs an evaluation index system including the content of five respects namely natural conditions, infrastructure, port operation, hinterland environment and geographical location; 17 secondary indicators such as climate conditions, berth depth, length of port shoreline, port yard area, hinterland range and strategic value and so on, applies the analytic hierarchy process to evaluate the port development potential of 13 ports along the Northern Sea Route in Russia. The results show that: (1)The order from largest to smallest of influence on port development potential is geographical location, hinterland environment, natural conditions, infrastructure and port operation. Among them, the geographical location is highly correlated with the port's development potential. The port to be classified as high-level development potential category occupies a superior location and a strong throat. It is the only place for Pacific ships to enter and exit the Northern Sea Route. (2)There are three levels of port development potential. The first level includes the port of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Provideniya, Tiksi; The second level includes the port of Naryan-Mar, Sabeta, Pevek, Uelen, Amderma; The third level consists of Dikson, Hatanga, Vilhoyansk, Ambachik. (3)The port development potential generally presents a "W" pattern from west to east. Murmansk, Tiksi and Provideniya are located in the west, the middle and the east of Northern Sea Route in Russia with great port development potential, the development potential of other ports are relatively small.
