This Wall Street Journal graphic shows the Arctic shipping route from China to Europe. For other perspectives on whether large scale Arctic shipping is viable, search for “Arctic Shipping” here on Longshore and Shipping News.
The Yong Sheng, belonging to Cosco Shipping, has moored at Rotterdam today, becoming the first Chinese merchant ship to transit the Arctic. The ship left Dalian on August 8 and crossed around 3,000 nautical miles before reaching the Dutch port. The route is around two weeks than the traditional trip through Southeast and South Asia and through the Suez Canal.
“The Arctic route can cut 12 to 15 days from traditional routes, so the maritime industry calls it the Golden Waterway,” Cosco said when it announced the Yong Sheng’s voyage. The landmark event connects China, the world’s largest exporter with its largest customer base, Europe, albeit for just a few months of the year.