South Korea Plans First Arctic Container Ship Test Voyage via Russia’s Northern Sea Route South Korea is preparing its first-ever container ship voyage through Russia’s Northern Sea Route, testing whether Arctic shipping can reshape Asia–Europe trade. The trial highlights Seoul’s ambitions to turn Busan into an Arctic hub, despite sanctions risks, high insurance costs and lingering geopolitical uncertainty.
World’s Largest Container Shipping Company MSC Again Rules Out Arctic Shipping, As Chinese Companies Push Ahead The same week a Chinese container ship is attempting to make a record-setting Northern Sea Route transit from China to the UK in 18 days, European operator MSC reaffirmed its commitment to not ship via the Arctic. The company cited environmental concerns and lack of infrastructure as key reasons.
China Launches 18-Day Arctic Express Containership Route To Europe With Stops in UK, Germany, Poland A Chinese shipping company is set to launch the first liner-type container shipping route via the Arctic. The service will begin in September connecting three ports in China to four destinations in Western Europe. The country’s Ministry of Transport has begun to release live sea ice monitoring to improve safety for Arctic shipping.
China-Russia Announce Plans for Five Ice-Capable Containerships for Year Round Arctic Service Russia and China's collaboration in the Arctic continues, now with new plans to build high ice-class containerships to begin year-round shipments on the Northern Sea Route. Though the details, including the size of the vessels and who will build them, remain scarce.
New Report: Busy Summer for Arctic Shipping on Russia’s Northern Sea Route Traffic between Russia and China continues to be the driver for Arctic transit shipping traffic on the Northern Sea Route, a new report by Center for High North Logistics shows. Crude oil, coal, and iron ore are flowing from Russia to China, while container shipping is occurring almost equally in both directions.
Northern Sea Route Saw Seven Containership Voyages in 2023, Including Controversial Chinese Container Ship Northern Sea Route shipping activity during the summer of 2023 included the first regular container service between Asia and Europe. But the novel service did not transpire without controversy as one of the vessels, ChinasNewNew Polar Bearis suspected of damaging the Balticconnector pipeline. Results of a Finnish request for inquiry with Chinese counterparts remain pending.
Proposed Russian State-Owned Shipping Operator To Subsidize Container Shipping in Arctic While shipments of oil and gas are booming in the Arctic, the Northern Sea Route has seen little interest from global container shipping companies. Now Russia is studying the possibility of a state-run operator, effectively subsidizing container shipping along the route.
Major shipping companies Hapag-Lloyd and MSC Step Away From Arctic Shipping Hapag-Lloyd and MSC are the latest shipping companies saying they will not ship via the Arctic. Companies cite environmental concerns, but experts caution that appearing environmentally friendly may be primary driver. Will more companies, like Maersk and COSCO, have to follow suit in light of growing public concern for climate change and the environment?
CMA CGM Shipping Company Backs Away From Russia’s Northern Sea Route CMA CGM, the world’s fourth largest container shipping company, announced it will not operate in the Arctic due to environmental concerns.
Shipping Company Maersk to Return to Arctic Northern Sea Route This Summer Danish shipping operator Maersk is exploring the possibility of sending cargo along Russia's Northern Sea Route this summer. It is currently discussing a cooperation with Atomflot, the country's primary operator of icebreakers.
Container Shipping Is Coming to the Arctic along Russia’s Northern Sea Route Plans to build container shipping terminals along Russia’s Northern Sea Route continue to move forward. While experts remain skeptical about the project’s feasibility, the lead company, Primorsky CPC, announced the construction of a new port near Murmansk.
Maersk Container Ship Embarks on Historic Arctic Transit Danish company Maersk becomes latest major shipping operator to dip its toes in Arctic waters as it sends 3,600 TEU container ship along Russia’s Northern Sea Route.
