China's first ship to arrive in Europe via Arctic route, reducing travel time

China"s first ship is set to arrive in Europe via the Arctic route, significantly reducing travel time between China and Europe. The vessel, named the Europe Arctic Express, is expected to shorten the journey by ten days, taking 18 days through the Arctic compared to approximately 30 days via the Suez Canal.

The ship will depart from the port of Qingdao, located opposite North Korea, carrying 5,000 containers. It is scheduled to dock at several European ports, including Felixstowe in Great Britain, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Gdansk. A consistent flow of ships utilizing this new route could diminish the significance of Mediterranean ports.

This development has been facilitated by climate change, as the polar ice cap continues to shrink, leading to accelerated ice melting at a rate of 12 percent every ten years. This environmental change has made the Arctic route more navigable, allowing for the emergence of what is referred to as a "Northwest Passage." In recent years, Russian and Chinese container ships have primarily used this Arctic route, with Norway’s Centre for High North Logistics (CHNL) reporting that approximately 52 Russian or Chinese ships transited the route between early June and late August, mainly carrying Russian oil for export.

For more on related coverage, see recent developments in global trade routes.