Chinese cargo ships opt for Arctic shortcut to bypass Red Sea

Two Chinese container ships, Please Please Shark 1 and Please Please Shark 2, are making their way through the Arctic via the Russian Northeast Passage to connect Chinese ports with destinations in Europe. The Arctic Route provides a shortcut that allows ships to avoid the turbulent waters of the Red Sea without detouring via the Cape of Good Hope. The ships are operated by NewNew Shipping Line, which began Arctic operations last summer and plans to expand its activities.

Please Please Shark 1, with 21,279 deadweight tons (DWT) and the ability to transport 1,220 standard containers (TEU), is currently being escorted by the nuclear icebreaker Sibir through the more difficult conditions in the East Siberian Sea. Meanwhile, Please Please Shark 2, a 29,008 DWT vessel, departed from Rizhao in mid-July and is en route to the Bering Strait. Both ships are heading for the northwest Russian port of Archangelsk before continuing to ports in the Baltic Sea.

In addition to the Chinese container ships, several Panamax container ships from Safetrans Line in Hong Kong have been granted permission to use the Arctic route. Notable Western container shipping companies like Maersk have also made voyages via the Arctic in the past, while others like MSC, CMA CGM, and Happag Lloyd have refrained from using the route due to environmental concerns.

Source .