Chinese Container Ships Begin Arctic Voyages

Two Chinese container ships have set off on a journey via the Arctic, using Russia's Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a strategic shortcut to connect ports in China with European destinations. This expedition serves as a superb example of the changing dynamics of global shipping routes. The detour reiterates the geopolitical and environmental concerns that accompany the Arctic passage, while also highlighting its value. The Arctic Route does, however, make a compelling case for the global shipping sector.

Shipping companies can skip the lengthy detour around the Cape of Good Hope and the often troublesome waters of the Red Sea by taking the Arctic route, which presents a substantial advantage. Vessels can significantly cut down on the distance and time needed to travel between Asia and Europe by cutting through the Arctic.

On July 5, the first of the two ships, Xin Xin Hai 1, sailed from the Port of Taicang, which is close to Shanghai. This 21,279 deadweight tonne (DWT) ship is presently traveling the Northern Sea Route after passing through the Bering Strait with the capacity to carry 1,220 standard containers (TEU). An icebreaker escort is required because to the more hazardous circumstances in the East Siberian Sea, even though portions of the route are free of sea ice during the summer. Xin Xin Hai 1 is currently being guided by the nuclear icebreaker Sibir.

Its sister ship, the 29,008 DWT Xin Xin Hai 2, is trailing closely behind. Traveling to the Bering Strait after leaving the Chinese port of Rizhao in mid-July, it is currently a week or so behind Xin Xin Hai 1.
The company that runs both ships, New New Shipping Line, started operating in the Arctic last summer and will make seven trips between July and December of 2023. Among these was a contentious voyage by the New Polar Bear that led to submerged infrastructure damage in the Baltic Sea. The company wants to grow its Arctic activities this summer.

After arriving in Arkhangelsk, a port in northwest Russia, both warships will sail for ports in the Baltic Sea. Notably, authorization to use the Northern Sea Route has also been granted to several Panamax container ships, each with a capacity of about 5,000 TEU. These would be the biggest box carriers ever to make this journey.

Maersk is the only major Western container shipping firm that has completed a voyage across the Arctic route in 2018. Several operators, notably MSC, CMA CGM, and Happag Lloyd have already openly distanced themselves from using the Arctic route before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, citing environmental concerns. MSC confirmed this week that it will not be taking this route.

The use of the Arctic route has economic and logistical benefits but also raises environmental and geopolitical concerns. The Arctic ecology is vulnerable to rising maritime traffic, and the region's geopolitical significance grows as governments compete for control over this crucial route.