Niche Chinese liner Sea Legend Shipping launched a direct container service between China and northern Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) over the weekend, dispatching the 4,890 teu Istanbul Bridge on a voyage that is scheduled to take just 18 days to reach Europe.

The voyage, calling at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Gdansk, is something the line is looking to make a regular service during warmer months. The vessel previously ran as the Flying Fish 1 and undertook an Arctic voyage in 2023.

Sea Legend is a Chinese-controlled carrier that emerged during the Red Sea crisis with Chinese-flagged, security-hardened ships operating under PLA Navy escort. 

The company has targeted premium cargo for its new Arctic service with high time sensitivity, such as electronics and fashion, hoping to capitalise on faster delivery cycles and inventory efficiencies.

Another Chinese shipping line, New New Shipping, began a liner service on the NSR in 2023.