State-run news agency Xinhua reports that a Chinese container ship completed a pioneering voyage through the Arctic and into a UK port. This journey cut in half the transit time of the electric vehicles aboard the ship, as well as the solar panels, which were destined for Europe.

A storm off the coast of Norway delayed the maiden voyage of the Istanbul Bridge by two days. However, the ship reached Europe sooner than it would have taken a freighter going through the Suez Canal, or around Cape of Good Hope, which takes 40-50 days.

Global warming has made it possible for ships to navigate the new Northern Sea Route, which runs entirely through Arctic waters within Russia's exclusive Economic Zone.

China is looking to improve maritime links with Europe, the third largest economy in the world. It's also engaged in a costly trade dispute with the United States, which is the world's largest consumer market. Beijing is trying to diversify export markets in order to maintain growth of an economy that heavily relies on the sale of manufactured goods abroad.

Chinese customs data show that exports to Europe increased by 14% annually in September. Shipments to the U.S. dropped 27% during the same time period.

In the last four decades, the Arctic region has warmed up four times faster than global average. This has led to a dramatic decrease in sea ice, and created seasonal windows for shipping.

The weather and conditions of sailing along the Arctic Passage can be unpredictable.

Xinhua reported that the Istanbul Bridge, which was carrying around 4,000 containers, docked at Felixstowe on Monday, Britain's biggest container port. It is scheduled to stop in Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.

Sea Legend Container Line, a Chinese container line controlled by Sea Legend, operates the ship.

The company didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.

China has been working with Russia to develop a new shipping route in the Arctic, in order to reduce its dependency on the Strait of Malacca.

(source: Reuters)