After 20 days at sea, the first cargo ship on the China–Europe Arctic Express Route finally arrived at Felixstowe Port, UK, on the evening of October 13th, halving the normal travel time for container ships to Europe.
The vessel departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang, eastern China, on September 22nd. It carried about 4,000 standard containers. After leaving Felixstowe, it will continue to unload cargo at ports in the UK, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.
At the unloading site, Li Xiaobin, Chief Operating Officer of Sea Legend Line Limited, introduced the new route. He explained that the sea and temperature conditions along the Arctic route are ideal for transporting heat-sensitive and time-critical goods. In particular, the ship mainly carried new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic equipment.
The China–Europe Arctic Express Route travels through the Northeast Passage in the Arctic and reaches Europe directly. However, on October 8, after leaving the Arctic waters, the ship encountered Storm Amy in the Norwegian Sea. Therefore, the crew slowed down to ensure safety, and arrived two days later than planned.
Even so, the route still offers a significant time advantage. Specifically, the Arctic route takes around 20 days. By comparison, China–Europe freight trains need about 25 days, while the Suez Canal route takes roughly 40 days, and the Cape of Good Hope route nearly 50 days.
Captain Zhong Desheng said that all crew members felt thrilled to reach their destination safely. He also noted that the company began preparing for this route three years ago. During that time, they upgraded the ship’s hardware and provided systematic training for all crew members.
As one of the core channels of the “Ice Silk Road,” the Arctic Northeast Passage plays a vital role in connecting East Asia and the Europe. This emerging route not only helps optimize global supply chains but also strengthens trade and economic cooperation along the way.
Looking ahead, Sea Legend Line Limited plans to introduce more ice-strengthened ships by 2026. In addition, the company aims to establish a regular summer navigation schedule for the route. The China–Europe Arctic Express Route is expected to become a stable and efficient trade corridor between Asia and Europe.
Written by Yi Shen, additional reporting by Xinhua.
If you liked this article, why not read: From Zhoushan to Felixstowe, First China-Europe Arctic Express Launches
