On September 22nd, the "Istanbul Bridge" vessel completed the loading of more than 1,000 standard boxes at berth 7 of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port North One Terminal. At 23:00 on the same day, the "I Bridge" set sail from the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. In the following 18 days or so, it will cross the Arctic Circle for the first time and the Felixstowe Port in the UK directly through the Northeast Passage (NSR). This marks the official opening of the world's first China-Europe Arctic Express Route ("China-Europe Arctic Express").

According to the person in charge of Zhejiang Port Group, the opening of this route not only realizes three-dimensional connection between the Arctic Ocean route and the "Belt and Road" land and sea network, but also forms a strategic synergy with the China-Europe train the "Ice Silk Road", building a composite logistics channel of "Sea-Rail Combined Transport Polar Shipping". Data shows that the container throughput of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has exceeded 35 million standard boxes in 2024. With the addition of the Arctic route, its global route coverage has been to 98%, truly forming a dual-engine drive pattern of the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" and the "Ice Silk Road".

The "Istanbul Bridge" is loaded with cross-border e-commerce goods, new energy equipment, and high-end manufacturing products, and is expected to arrive at the Felixowe Port on October 10th. This route is 30% faster than the Ningbo-William Port "China-Europe Express" (2 days) launched at the end of 2024, setting a new record for China-Europe shipping efficiency.