China breaks new ground with Arctic shipping route to Europe

Chinese shipping company Sea Legend has launched a regular container route between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route.

The route connects the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan with Felixstowe in the UK, with cargo deliveries taking around 20 days — nearly half the time required to travel through the Suez Canal.

The launch of regular services follows a trial route operated in 2025, when the Sea Legend container ship became the first vessel to sail from China to the UK via the Arctic in 20 days. The company plans to operate eight voyages during the 2026 summer navigation season.

However, the Northern Sea Route still faces several limitations. Shipping depends on ice and weather conditions, while vessels operating in the region must be specially equipped for Arctic navigation. The region also lacks sufficient infrastructure for rescue operations, while high insurance costs and geopolitical risks add to transportation expenses.

By Jeyhun Aghazada