Sea Legend Shipping is set to launch a direct seasonal container service between China and Northern Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

This new route is expected to begin operations in September, with a transit time of just 18 days between East Asia and Europe—nearly half of the 30 to 50 days typically required when routing via the Cape of Good Hope.

The inaugural voyage will be operated by the 4,890 TEU Istanbul Bridge, calling at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Gdansk. The vessel, currently chartered by Sea Legend in cooperation with Russia-focused partner Safetrans Line, was formerly known as Flying Fish 1 and completed an Arctic voyage in 2023.

Although climate change has extended the seasonal window for Arctic navigation, the NSR remains limited to summer operations. Sea Legend will operate only one voyage via this route in 2025, which is already fully booked.

This NSR voyage marks a significant milestone for Sea Legend Shipping. Headquartered in Singapore with Chinese investment, the company was established in early 2022 and officially launched its Red Sea route in November 2023. It targets high-value, time-sensitive cargo such as electronics and fashion goods, aiming to gain a competitive edge through faster delivery cycles and improved inventory efficiency.

To address the security challenges in the Red Sea, Sea Legend Shipping has implemented a range of strict safety measures. These include applying for Chinese naval escorts, hiring professional armed maritime security teams, and installing physical defense systems to prevent unauthorized boarding. Backed by these robust protections, Sea Legend has successfully completed multiple safe transits through high-risk waters.