The first South Korean container ship to sail through the Arctic shipping route reached a port in the United Kingdom on Saturday, marking the halfway point of its voyage to assess the potential of the long-closed route linking the eastern and western ends of the Eurasian continent.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Panstar Acro entered the port of Felixstowe in the UK at around 5 a.m., 21 days after departing Busan on Aug. 22.
The 2,758-TEU midsize container ship is carrying cargo including chemical products, used cars and auto parts to Europe. It is expected to unload some of the cargo at the UK port.
After stopping at Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Sunday and Gdansk in Poland on Wednesday, the ship will follow the same route on its return voyage to Busan, where it is expected to arrive around Oct. 12.
The voyage is part of South Korea’s initiative to explore a shorter route to Europe, reducing its reliance on the current route through the Indian Ocean.
Ships currently travel about 22,000 kilometers from Korea to Rotterdam. The Arctic route is expected to reduce the distance by about 32 percent while avoiding geopolitical risks at major maritime chokepoints and the threat of piracy along the existing route.
The northern route, however, has long been considered difficult to commercialize because thick sea ice can pose risks to vessels, while the harsh climate could increase costs for maintaining cargo at safe temperatures.
The Korean government is now collecting data to assess whether the route could become navigable more regularly in the coming years as rising global temperatures reduce Arctic sea ice.
The government is also preparing for the possibility of establishing a regular shipping route between Korea and Europe, with Busan potentially serving as a hub port.
President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the ship’s arrival at Felixstowe and renewed his commitment to supporting the Arctic shipping route initiative.
“As promised, I will accelerate the advent of the Arctic shipping route era and bring forward Busan’s development as a maritime capital through strong efforts and support,” Lee said in a post on X on Saturday afternoon.
In another post congratulating and thanking the crew, Lee urged the public to join him in wishing the crew a safe return and success in pioneering the Arctic shipping route.
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