First Container Ship Sets Sail on "Polar Silk Road"

September 23, 2025

China Daily reports that Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has launched the world's first China-Europe Arctic Express, realizing China’s "Polar Silk Road" vision.

On Monday, the container vessel Istanbul Bridge departed from Beiyi Container Terminal for Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port.

© lesniewski / Adobe Stock
© lesniewski / Adobe Stock

The vessel is carrying over 1,000 containers and sailing the Northeast Passage. The voyage is expected to take 18 days – less than half the time it takes to sail the Suez Canal route.

The vessel is operated by the Chinese-invested shipping company Sea Legend.

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