Northern Sea Route – debut of a Chinese container ship en route to Europe

This route is often described as treacherous and too dangerous for navigation. Yet, the Northern Sea Route could become a polar Silk Road, offering the fastest maritime connection between China and Europe. Experts emphasize that this ambitious plan would not be feasible without climate change, which is shrinking the Arctic ice cover in the far north.

Pioneering voyage from China to the United Kingdom

The vessel Istanbul Bridge departed on September 23 from the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan on the East China Sea coast. The nearly 300-meter-long container ship carries a wide assortment of goods on board – from textiles to batteries. Icebreaker escort may be provided along the most challenging sections. The entire voyage is expected to take about 18 days, marking a record-short duration for this route. The route leads through the Bering Sea into the Arctic Ocean, where the Northern Sea Route follows Russia’s northeastern coast toward the North Sea, ending in Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK. The ship will then call at ports in the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland.

Of course, Istanbul Bridge will not be the first vessel to traverse the Northern Sea Route – the first to achieve this was the SS Vega, a steam-assisted barque commanded by Adolf Nordenskiöld in the late 19th century. However, its crew was forced to spend the winter trapped in ice off the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula. Since then, the route has been mainly used by research expeditions, whalers, naval ships, and adventure tourists. The idea of using it for regular commercial shipping emerged only recently – and not without reason.

Thawing trade routes

Global warming brings numerous alarming consequences – from rising sea levels to increasingly intense hurricanes. The polar regions are undergoing the most dramatic transformations, with temperatures rising up to four times faster than in other parts of the world. As a result, both continental and sea ice are melting at an alarming rate.

Paradoxically, this changing landscape has made the Northern Sea Route a potentially attractive alternative for shipping. As early as 2018, China published its Arctic Strategy, outlining a vision for developing a Polar Silk Road in cooperation with all interested parties. Early autumn, when sea ice is at its minimum, offers the most favorable maritime conditions.

Trade gains – but at what cost?

Standard voyages from China to Europe via the Suez Canal take around 40 days. If Istanbul Bridge safely reaches Felixstowe, it will cut that time by more than half. This means not only substantial potential savings but also lower emissions from maritime transport. Additionally, voyages through the Suez Canal carry the risk of attacks in the Red Sea.

Not everyone, however, is optimistic about the idea. Skeptics point out that weather conditions in the far north are unpredictable, and navigating through icy, fog-bound waters remains highly dangerous—with rescue operations extremely difficult in case of an accident.

An even greater threat lies in the potential damage to fragile Arctic ecosystems, already under enormous stress. Noise generated by ship engines and the risk of collisions with whales are, according to scientists, strong arguments against such voyages, while the scenario of an oil spill in these regions would equal an ecological disaster. Malte Humpert of the Arctic Institute told CNN that the question is not if, but when.

Representatives of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company – the world’s largest maritime transport corporation – announced last week that, for environmental reasons, they are not considering exploiting the potential of the Northern Sea Route. China, however, appears to view the Arctic’s conquest differently, emphasizing the economic benefits for the entire Asian region, including Korea and Japan.