The shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has once again reiterated a stance it formulated years ago: the Northern Sea Route will continue to remain off-limits for the world’s largest container carrier. This is a clear signal in favor of environmental protection and safety.
In a recent statement, MSC emphasized that the route along the Arctic coasts—despite shrinking ice cover—remains insufficiently developed and not safe enough for commercial shipping. More importantly, increased use or potential expansion of the passage would cause potential damage to the fragile Arctic ecosystem and to the Indigenous communities living in the region.
No Operational Necessity – Existing Network Is Sufficient
The company states that its global transport network already ensures reliable and efficient cargo transport without Arctic detours. Accordingly, there is no operational need to traverse the sensitive Arctic waters.
A Consistent Position
MSC President Diego Aponte first publicly announced the decision in 2019. The company reaffirmed its stance in both 2021, after the Ever Given incident in the Suez Canal, and again in 2024, in the context of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea—despite global supply chain disruptions and debates over alternative routes.
A Unified Industry Signal
MSC is not alone in this position. Other major shipping companies, including Maersk, CMA CGM, Evergreen, and Hapag-Lloyd, have also committed to avoiding Arctic shipping routes. Together, they signed the Corporate Arctic Shipping Pledge, an initiative by the environmental organization Ocean Conservancy.
The document acknowledges that the development of shipping in the Arctic poses significant environmental risks as well as dangers to the Indigenous peoples of the region. The shipping companies commit to refraining from operations in the Arctic while supporting stricter international safety and environmental protection measures.
Manuele Rossi