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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
FELIXSTOWE, Britain, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — The first ship to sail on the Arctic Express Container Route linking China with Europe arrived at the port of Felixstowe in eastern England on Monday evening after a 20-day voyage.
This route offers a clear time advantage over the approximately 25 days on the China-Europe express train, the approximately 40 days via the Suez Canal and the approximately 50 days around the Cape of Good Hope.
The container ship Istanbul Bridge departed from the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in eastern China, carrying approximately 4,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). It will be unloaded in ports in the UK, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.
Li Xiaobin, chief operating officer of Sea Legend Line Limited, which operates the route, noted at the quay that the vessel mainly carries goods such as lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, as the sea and temperature conditions on the route are well suited for transporting heat-sensitive and time-sensitive cargo.
The shipping service uses the Northern Sea Route to reach Europe directly. According to Li Xiaobin, after traveling this route, the vessel encountered Storm Amy in the Norwegian Sea on October 8 and reduced speed for safety, arriving in Felixstowe two days later than planned.
"This was the most exciting voyage in my 18 years as captain," the ship's captain, Zhong Desheng, told Xinhua, adding that he was "thrilled" to lead his crew into port. He said the company began preparing for this route three years ago, including upgrading the vessel's equipment and systematically training the crew.
According to Sea Legend Line Limited, the Northern Sea Route connects East Asia and Europe and is becoming a new artery for international shipping, with the potential to optimize global supply chains and expand trade along this route.
Fan Yi, the company's chief executive, said the shipping line will add more ice-class vessels in 2026 and will have a fixed summer service schedule.
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