South Korean container ship makes first Arctic voyage to Europe

A South Korean container ship arrived in Britain on Saturday, September 12, after sailing through the Arctic route, marking the first voyage by a Korean container vessel to Europe via the Northern Sea Route, South Korea’s maritime ministry said.

The PanStar Acro departed from the southeastern port city of Busan on August 22 and entered the Northern Sea Route on August 31. It arrived at Felixstowe, its first European port of call, 21 days after leaving Busan, as per Korean media.

The vessel is scheduled to call at Rotterdam in the Netherlands on September 13 and Gdansk in Poland on September 16 before returning to Busan on October 12, according to the ministry.

President Lee Jae Myung congratulated the ship’s crew on what he described as a historic voyage through the Arctic route.

“I congratulate and thank the captain and crew members who pioneered this historic Arctic route,” Lee wrote on X. “Let's wish the PanStar Acro a safe return and a successful exploration of the Arctic route.”

By Tamilla Hasanova