Avoid the Red Sea route, and the Arctic route can be cut in half
Chinese shipping companies appear to have found a new way to solve problems in the Red Sea by shipping cargo via the Arctic Route (NSR), which allows operators to avoid troublesome Red Sea waters and avoid the detour to the Cape of Good Hope.
The data show that the trans-Arctic route from China to Northern Europe covers about 13,000 kilometers, which is significantly shorter than the Suez Canal route of 20,000 kilometers, and about half the distance required to circumvent the Cape of Good Hope.
In early July, two Chinese container ships, Xin Xin Hai 1 and Xin Xin Hai 2, set sail from Taicang and Rizhao ports near Shanghai on a new voyage to the Arctic, aiming to open up a more efficient international transport corridor.
The ships have chosen to use Russia's Northern Sea Route as a shortcut between Chinese ports and European destinations, avoiding potentially risky waters such as the Red Sea and eliminating the need to circumnavigate the remote Cape of Good Hope, significantly reducing the distance they travel.
In view of the fact that most of the sea ice in the Arctic, especially the East Siberian Sea, has melted in summer, but the navigation conditions are still extremely harsh, so Xin Xin Hai 1 has been escorted by the nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir to ensure the safety of navigation.
It was followed by another sister ship, Xin Xin Hai 2, which departed Rizhao Port in mid-July, also heading for the Bering Strait and the Arctic Route. The ship, which has a deadweight of 29,008 tons, is operated by the same Chinese company, NewNew Shipping, as Xin Xin Hai 1.
Sing Sing Line has been operating in the Arctic since last summer and plans to expand its operations this year, despite controversy over damaged infrastructure in the Baltic Sea caused by a ship's voyage last year.
It is worth noting that in addition to the vessels of Sing Sing Line, there are several Panamax container ships such as Flying Fish 1, SFT Turkey and SFT Egypt, all of which are affiliated with Hong Kong's Safetrans Line, which have also been approved to sail along the route. To become a larger container carrier capable of crossing the Arctic route.
However, if the appropriate ice classification is not obtained, SFT Turkey and SFT Egypt will not begin operations until after August 1.
It is reported that the Arctic 1 Express line is a sea-rail intermodal transport line jointly opened by Xinxin Shipping Company and Russian State Atomic Energy Company. From the domestic port, through the Arctic Ocean route to the port of Arkhangelsk, Russia, and then by rail transport to Moscow Belelast logistics center, the whole transportation distance of about 13,000 kilometers, the overall transportation time is expected to be 20-25 days.
Compared with the regular route through the Suez Canal, the Arctic 1 Express can reduce the transport distance by 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers, and the transit time can be reduced by more than 20 days due to fewer ports along the way. In 2024, more than 20,000 TEU cargo is expected to be transported via this express line.
According to relevant statistics, the total transit cargo transport on the Arctic route in 2023 will be 2.129 million tons. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024, China's Newnew Shipping Co., LTD. (Newnew Shipping) signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's state atomic energy company Rosatom, planning to build a fleet capable of year-round navigation in the Arctic route, and the first five ARC7-class polar container ships will be built. The first vessel is expected to enter service in 2027, which will realize the vision of going from summer sailing to year-round navigation!
The data show that the trans-Arctic route from China to Northern Europe covers about 13,000 kilometers, which is significantly shorter than the Suez Canal route of 20,000 kilometers, and about half the distance required to circumvent the Cape of Good Hope.
In early July, two Chinese container ships, Xin Xin Hai 1 and Xin Xin Hai 2, set sail from Taicang and Rizhao ports near Shanghai on a new voyage to the Arctic, aiming to open up a more efficient international transport corridor.
The ships have chosen to use Russia's Northern Sea Route as a shortcut between Chinese ports and European destinations, avoiding potentially risky waters such as the Red Sea and eliminating the need to circumnavigate the remote Cape of Good Hope, significantly reducing the distance they travel.
In view of the fact that most of the sea ice in the Arctic, especially the East Siberian Sea, has melted in summer, but the navigation conditions are still extremely harsh, so Xin Xin Hai 1 has been escorted by the nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir to ensure the safety of navigation.
It was followed by another sister ship, Xin Xin Hai 2, which departed Rizhao Port in mid-July, also heading for the Bering Strait and the Arctic Route. The ship, which has a deadweight of 29,008 tons, is operated by the same Chinese company, NewNew Shipping, as Xin Xin Hai 1.
Sing Sing Line has been operating in the Arctic since last summer and plans to expand its operations this year, despite controversy over damaged infrastructure in the Baltic Sea caused by a ship's voyage last year.
It is worth noting that in addition to the vessels of Sing Sing Line, there are several Panamax container ships such as Flying Fish 1, SFT Turkey and SFT Egypt, all of which are affiliated with Hong Kong's Safetrans Line, which have also been approved to sail along the route. To become a larger container carrier capable of crossing the Arctic route.
However, if the appropriate ice classification is not obtained, SFT Turkey and SFT Egypt will not begin operations until after August 1.
It is reported that the Arctic 1 Express line is a sea-rail intermodal transport line jointly opened by Xinxin Shipping Company and Russian State Atomic Energy Company. From the domestic port, through the Arctic Ocean route to the port of Arkhangelsk, Russia, and then by rail transport to Moscow Belelast logistics center, the whole transportation distance of about 13,000 kilometers, the overall transportation time is expected to be 20-25 days.
Compared with the regular route through the Suez Canal, the Arctic 1 Express can reduce the transport distance by 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers, and the transit time can be reduced by more than 20 days due to fewer ports along the way. In 2024, more than 20,000 TEU cargo is expected to be transported via this express line.
In recent years, with the intensification of global warming, the Arctic ice is melting faster and faster, and the Arctic shipping route has become a topic of concern.
According to relevant statistics, the total transit cargo transport on the Arctic route in 2023 will be 2.129 million tons. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024, China's Newnew Shipping Co., LTD. (Newnew Shipping) signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's state atomic energy company Rosatom, planning to build a fleet capable of year-round navigation in the Arctic route, and the first five ARC7-class polar container ships will be built. The first vessel is expected to enter service in 2027, which will realize the vision of going from summer sailing to year-round navigation!
