First container ship from Ningbo embarks on Arctic Express Route to Europe

The port of Ningbo-Zhoushan on China’s east coast has dispatched its first container vessel on a new express service to Europe via the Northern Sea Route. The voyage, part of the “Polar Silk Road” initiative, is being hailed in Chinese industry circles as a milestone in global shipping.

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23 september 2025   |   10:01   |   Source: Gazeta Morska / PAP   |   Prepared by: Krzysztof Pawliszak   |   Print

fot. Port Ningbo-Zhoushan

The vessel is bound for the Port of Felixstowe in the UK, with an estimated transit time of just 18 days. This represents a dramatic improvement compared with traditional routes: around 25 days by rail, approximately 40 days via the Suez Canal, and up to 50 days on routes rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

Running along Russia’s Arctic coastline through the Northeast Passage, the route provides the shortest maritime link between East Asia and Europe. Its advantages extend beyond speed. As the Global Times emphasized, the passage avoids piracy-prone waters and politically unstable regions, offering carriers greater security and predictability.

“This route was designed specifically for cross-border e-commerce and high-value cargoes,” noted Sun Xuejun, president of Zhejiang Seaport Logistics Group, the operator behind the service.

The European Union remains Ningbo’s largest trading partner. According to local customs data, trade with the EU in the first eight months of this year reached RMB 330.74 billion (approx. USD 46.5 billion), accounting for 18 percent of the port’s total foreign trade.

The Arctic link connects China’s leading gateways — Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian — with Europe’s major hubs, including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Gdańsk. Analysts believe the route could, in time, reshape global shipping networks by offering a viable northern alternative to traditional southern sea lanes.

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