- New Route Expected to Halve Shipping Times to 18 Days.
- Arctic Warming Opens North Sea Route for Commercial Shipping.
- Istanbul Bridge Set for Inaugural Voyage from Ningbo Zhoushan.
This week, the Chinese-controlled container line Sea Legend is set to kick off its first direct route from China to Europe via the Arctic, as reported by the Global Times on Monday. This new route is anticipated to cut express shipping times between the two regions by nearly half, reports Reuters.
First Voyage Scheduled for September 24
Sea Legend plans to launch its inaugural ship along the North Sea Route (NSR) on September 24, according to a statement from Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The journey is expected to take around 18 days.
Arctic Conditions Enable Shorter Routes
Traditionally, goods from China have made the long trek to Europe around the Cape of Good Hope, which takes at least 40 days. However, due to global warming, the melting of Arctic sea ice has opened up the NSR, making it more navigable. Over the last 40 years, the Arctic has warmed at a rate about four times faster than the global average, creating seasonal opportunities for commercial shipping.
Istanbul Bridge to Make Inaugural Journey
The container ship Istanbul Bridge is set to leave Ningbo Zhoushan on Wednesday, with an expected arrival in Felixstowe, the largest container port in Britain, on October 10, according to the Global Times.
Environmental and Safety Implications
This shorter route is projected to cut carbon emissions by roughly 50%, as noted by the port. While using less fuel will lower CO₂ emissions during the voyage, climate experts caution that increased traffic in the Arctic could heighten environmental risks, disrupt marine life, and present safety challenges due to extreme weather and limited infrastructure.
Previous Fastest Route
Before this, the quickest China-Europe express shipping route took 26 days from Ningbo Zhoushan to Wilhelmshaven in Germany and began operations last year, as reported by the Global Times.
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Source: Reuters
