Hangzhou, Oct. 14 (Zhongxin Net) (By Bao Mengni) According to the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ocean Economic Development on October 14, the freighter “Istanbul Bridge,” which set sail from Ningbo Zhoushan Port on September 23, arrived at the Port of Felixstowe in the UK on the 13th local time, marking the successful maiden voyage of the world’s first China-Europe Arctic Container Express (hereinafter referred to as the “China-Europe Arctic Express”).
The “Istanbul Bridge” at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. Provided by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ocean Economic Development.
The China-Europe Arctic Express is the world’s first container route via the Arctic specifically designed for cross-border e-commerce and high-value-added goods. This route is a seasonal passage that takes the Arctic Northeast Passage directly to Europe, ensuring the security of the third corridor for the China-Europe supply chain.
Previously, after collecting cargo from the three major ports in East China—Qingdao, Shanghai, and Ningbo—the “Istanbul Bridge” departed from Ningbo Zhoushan Port on September 23. It passed through the preset transit window with calm seas, proceeding safely at high speed, and exited the European side of the Arctic passage in just 15 days. It then encountered severe weather in the North Atlantic, which slowed its progress, ultimately arriving at its first port of discharge—the UK’s Port of Felixstowe—two days later than originally planned.
Compared to the transit times of the China-Europe Railway Express (“25 days+”), the Suez Canal route (“40 days+”), and the current route detouring via the Cape of Good Hope due to the Red Sea crisis (“50 days+”), the China-Europe Arctic Express offers highly competitive transportation efficiency for international trade. It is reported that, thanks to the fast transit time of this route, corporate inventory levels can be significantly reduced by 40%, effectively lowering capital occupancy costs. The carbon emissions of this route are 30% lower than the Suez Canal route and 50% lower than the aforementioned Cape of Good Hope detour route.
The cargo carried by the “Istanbul Bridge” this time mainly consisted of energy storage cabinets and cross-border e-commerce goods, which have high requirements for delivery timeliness. The high efficiency of the China-Europe Arctic Express meets this demand. The sea conditions and temperature along the route are suitable for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods and time-critical commodities, providing faster and lower-carbon international logistics options for Chinese industries such as high-end manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce, and new energy. (End)
