Chinese shipping companies are expanding Arctic routes to reduce transit times to Europe and bypass chokepoints such as the Suez Canal. SeaLegend Line, founded in 2022, has dispatched its first Arctic express vessel, Istanbul Bridge, from Qingdao.
The ship, carrying around 4,100 containers, will call at Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Gdansk, and is expected in Poland on 16 October. SeaLegend said the journey from Ningbo to Felixstowe will take 18 days — a week faster than the China-Europe Railway Express and less than half the 40 days it would take for a ship travelling via the Suez Canal.
New New Shipping, another Chinese line, began Arctic operations in 2023. Chairwoman Fan Yuxin has stressed both the strategic benefits of shorter distances and deeper cooperation with Russia, which is promoting investment in Arctic ports. Analysts note that the route could strengthen China and Russia’s geopolitical position in global trade, while environmental groups warn of risks to Arctic ecosystems.
Source: South China Morning Post, TRT World
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