With the arrival of the Arctic summer navigation season, several Chinese companies have dispatched container ships to traverse this shortcut between Europe and Asia through the Arctic.

Since the Arctic route was first opened in 2023, Chinese operator Newnew Shipping has steadily expanded its Arctic services. Last year, the company completed 13 transits along the Russian Northern Sea Route, transporting approximately 20,000 containers. Currently, two of its container ships are operating on the Arctic route, with at least three more vessels holding licenses for this passage.

On July 16, the 3,534 TEU Newnew Polar Bear departed from Shanghai, called at Nakhodka Bay in Russia’s Far East, and then set sail towards the Arctic. The vessel is expected to arrive at Russia’s Arkhangelsk port by August 15.

The 3,534 TEU Newnew Star set off from Tianjin on July 20, bound for St. Petersburg. Compared to the traditional Suez Canal route, which takes about 40 to 50 days, this voyage is expected to last approximately four weeks.

On the same day, the 2,500 TEU feeder vessel Hui Da 9, operated by Fujian Huihai Shipping Co., departed from St. Petersburg heading to Rizhao, China. This company is a new entrant to shipping via the Russian Northern Sea Route. The Arctic shortcut can save around three weeks of transit time between Northern Europe and East Asia.

At least 12 container ships have obtained licenses for the Russian Arctic route, including returning vessels such as Newnew Panda 1, Xin Xin Tian 2, Xin Xin Hai 1, and Istanbul Bridge (formerly known as Flying Fish 1). Last year, Flying Fish 1 became the largest (4,890 TEU) and the first Panamax container ship to transit the Arctic.

Next month, another Chinese shipping company, Sea Legend Shipping, is expected to launch a liner service connecting China and Northern Europe.

This seasonal service will cover an 18-day sailing schedule between Chinese ports including Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo, and European ports such as Felixstowe (UK), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Hamburg (Germany), and Gdańsk (Poland). The operator plans to use both low ice-class and conventional non-ice-class container ships.

Currently, container shipping via the Arctic route is limited to a four to five-month window between July and November. Whether this route can become a year-round shipping corridor remains to be seen. Russian officials have repeatedly announced plans to facilitate year-round navigation along this route, but to date, only a limited number of trial voyages have taken place during the winter months.