A Chinese container ship has successfully completed its first commercial voyage through the Arctic, cutting delivery time to Europe by nearly half, according to state-run Chinese media.

The Istanbul Bridge docked at Felixstowe, Britain’s largest container port, after a 20-day journey from the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China.

The vessel carried around 4,000 containers, including lithium-ion batteries and solar panels, bound for ports in Britain, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.

The Arctic route, also called the Northeast Passage, allowed the ship to bypass the longer Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope routes, which typically take 40 to 50 days. The new route also outpaces the China-Europe Railway Express, which takes roughly 25 days.

Experts say the shorter journey significantly reduces carbon emissions and benefits time-sensitive and heat-sensitive cargo. Low Arctic temperatures help preserve high-tech components, while calmer seas reduce vessel movement and the risk of damage to precision parts.

Video Credits: CCTV Video News Agency/YouTube

The Istanbul Bridge faced a delay of two days due to Storm Amy in the Norwegian Sea but still arrived much earlier than conventional routes.

Sea Legend Line Limited, which operates the ship, had prepared for three years to make the voyage, upgrading vessel hardware, training crews, and improving meteorological navigation forecasts.

Company officials said the Arctic route could streamline global supply chains and improve logistics efficiency. Shorter transit times can lower inventory by up to 40%, reduce costs, and allow companies to respond more quickly to market demand.

The Arctic has warmed about four times faster than the global average over the past 40 years, opening seasonal opportunities for shipping, though weather and sea conditions remain unpredictable.

China has strengthened maritime cooperation with Russia in recent years, seeking alternatives to the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia. The move comes as exports to Europe rose 14% in September, while shipments to the U.S. fell 27%, showing China’s effort to diversify trade amid tensions with the United States.

Sea Legend plans to expand its Arctic services with more ice-class ships by 2026 and establish a fixed summer schedule, while also developing express services to Eastern Europe during non-navigable winter months.

Reference: Reuters