Containership traffic through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) is set to break all previous records with more than 25 sailings expected this year, compared to just 15 voyages in 2025 and 11 voyages in 2024. This year will also see the first transit by a South Korean ship, with Panstar Shipping launching its own Arctic Route Service with the 2,786 teu PANSTAR ACRO (ex-HMM MOMBASA) that was acquired by Panstar from HMM on 1 August 2026. The ship is scheduled to sail from Busan on 22 August 2026 and w
Sea Legend will restart its China-Europe Arctic Express (CAX) service connecting Ningbo and Felixstowe from 12 August 2026. 8 westbound sailings are planned to coincide with the 2026 Northern Sea Route (NSR) season, following just a single trial voyage in 2025. Last year, Sea Legend deployed the 4,890 teu ISTANBUL BRIDGE from Ningbo on 23 September 2025 and completed its Arctic voyage to Felixtowe in 21 days. After additional calls at Hamburg, Gdansk and Rotterdam, the ship returned via the Sue
Sea Legend will discontinue its China-Europe Arctic Express (CAX) service after only a single sailing. The 4,890 teu ISTANBUL BRIDGE completed its maiden westbound CAX voyage at Felixstowe on 14 October 2025 after departing from Ningbo on 23 September 2025, completing the Arctic Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 21 days. After additional calls at Hamburg, Gdansk and Rotterdam, the ship will return via the Suez route, forgoing the Arctic route on its return leg. No further CAX sailings are planned, wi
Sea Legend Line, a wholly owned subsidiary of Worldwide Logistics Holding, has announced a China-Europe sailing using the Arctic / Northern Sea Route (NSR). The 4,890 teu ISTANBUL BRIDGE will make the maiden voyage from 20 Septmber 2025 calling at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Gdansk. The ship is currently operated by Safetrans on the China-St Petersburg route via the Suez. The same ship, then named as FLYING FISH 1, had also performed a single eastbound Arctic/NSR
Newly established carrier Sea Legend has launched its own China to Red Sea and East Med connections via the Suez Canal that advertises Chinese Naval escorts and commercial armed guards on board their ships. The new service takes advantage of soaring freight rates to Red Sea and Med destinations due to the diversion of over 70% of the containership capacity to the Cape route since December 2023. The Sea Legend service connects Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Djibouti, Jeddah, Sokhna, Aqaba, P