Cosco in first Arctic voyage

The 19,000- ton vessel, loaded with containers, steel and heavy equipment, arrived at the Port of Rotterdam on Tuesday (10 September), having left the Port of Dalian in north-eastern China one month earlier.

Backed by the Chinese government, the trial was China’s first attempt to send a ship in the opposite direction to that usually used for exports to Europe.

Cosco believes that the Arctic route could cut shipping times from Asia to Europe using the traditional route via the Suez Canal by about one third, while reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and operating costs.  Major Chinese ports including Dandong, Yingkou, Qinhuangdao and Tianjin could benefit from the growing ease of travelling through the Arctic.