The first-ever container shipment from China to Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) has successfully arrived at the Port of Felixstowe in the United Kingdom, marking a historic milestone in global maritime logistics.
The vessel departed from Ningbo, China, on September 23, carrying nearly 25,000 tons of cargo, and entered the Northern Sea Route on October 1. Navigation and information support along the Arctic route were provided by a Rosatom enterprise, said a ROSATOM press release. After unloading in Felixstowe, the vessel will continue to other European destinations.
The journey through the Russian Arctic took only 20 days, nearly half the time required by conventional southern maritime routes, demonstrating the NSR’s growing potential as a viable and sustainable corridor between Asia and Europe.
As the global shipping industry accelerates efforts to reduce carbon emissions, shorter routes such as the NSR offer a practical solution to lower travel distances, transportation costs, and greenhouse gas output.
Stretching approximately 5,600 kilometers, the Northern Sea Route is the shortest maritime link between Western Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region. It also serves as a key national transport artery for Russia, with cargo traffic reaching a record 37.9 million tons in 2024, exceeding the previous year’s volume by more than 1.6 million tons.
The comprehensive development of the Russian Arctic zone remains a strategic national priority. Efforts to strengthen the NSR corridor include establishing regular freight services, building new nuclear-powered icebreakers, and modernizing port and navigation infrastructure.