China to Release Northern Sea Route Pilot Book

The guide will offer comprehensive, practical and authoritative information for Chinese cargo ships for sailing through the Northern Sea Route, or Northeast Passage, to Europe, reports China Daily, citing Zhai Jiugang, deputy head of the Ministry of Transport's Maritime Safety Administration.

The new route can save Chinese cargo ships 5,186 kilometers and nine days from the traditional voyage to Europe, which goes through the Malacca Straits and the Suez Canal.

The guide elaborates on such things as the Northern Sea Route's nautical charts, sailing methods, ice-breaking providers and Arctic geography and climate, as well as laws and regulations of countries along the route, according to Wang Liangyu, a maritime mapping expert with the ministry's Donghai Navigation Safety Administration, which led the publication of the guide.

According to the 'China Daily' the book's publication will make China the second country after Russia to issue an Arctic voyage guide.

With the effects of global warming, the route has become more accessible for ships because the ice is melting faster.

A total of 46 commercial ships went through the lane last year.

Source: China Daily