Shipping along the Russian Arctic coast could reach new heights this summer. The Chinese shipping company Sea Legend Shipping is planning, for the first time, a regular seasonal container service between China and Europe via the Northeast Passage. This will see previous one-off and trial voyages transformed into connections operating to a fixed timetable for the first time.
Under the name China-Europe Arctic Express (CAX), a total of eight sailings are scheduled between August and early October 2026. The ships will set sail from Ningbo-Zhoushan on China’s east coast and travel via the Russian Arctic to Felixstowe in the UK.
To Europe in around 20 days
The biggest advantage is the significantly shorter journey time. The journey from Ningbo to Felixstowe is estimated to take around 20 to 21 days. Shipments via the Suez Canal often take 30 to 40 days, whilst the route round Africa via the Cape of Good Hope takes even longer.
The “Dubai Tower”, a container ship with a capacity of around 1,740 TEU, is set to be the first to use the route. The ship left China on 15 August and is due to arrive in Felixstowe on 7 September. Further ships will follow on a weekly basis. From the UK, the cargo can be distributed to numerous European ports.
Trial voyage paves the way
The foundations for the new service were laid as early as 2025. In September, the ‘Istanbul Bridge’ left Ningbo and reached Felixstowe after around 20 days. It then called at other European ports such as Hamburg, Gdańsk and Rotterdam.
The experience gained during this voyage – regarding navigation, ice and weather conditions, as well as logistics – will now be incorporated into regular operations.
Seven ships for eight voyages
Seven ships with capacities ranging from around 1,500 to just under 4,900 TEU are planned for 2026. Alongside the ‘Dubai Tower’, the ‘Riyadh Mukaab’, ‘Athens Odeon’ and, once again, the ‘Istanbul Bridge’ are set to be deployed.
However, there is as yet no prospect of a year-round scheduled service. The Northeast Passage remains heavily dependent on ice conditions and, for the time being, is restricted to the summer and early autumn months for ordinary merchant ships.
Opportunities and risks
For China, the route opens up an additional and considerably shorter link to European markets. At the same time, the Northeast Passage is gaining further strategic importance as a result of closer economic cooperation between China and Russia.
However, the increase in shipping poses risks to the fragile Arctic ecosystem. Accidents and pollution could have particularly serious consequences in this remote region. Added to this are difficult ice and weather conditions, as well as limited port and rescue infrastructure.
Should the eight planned voyages in 2026 prove successful, an important milestone would nevertheless be reached: Individual container shipments could, for the first time, develop into a scheduled seasonal liner service between China and Europe.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal