An aerial view of the Xuelong 2 docking at a port in east China's Shanghai. Photo by Zhang Ansong// Xinhua/EPA
Aug. 13 (Asia Today) -- China is moving to establish a regular Arctic container route to Europe as retreating sea ice and geopolitical tensions increase interest in shipping through waters north of Russia.
Chinese carrier Sea Legend is beginning a regular container service linking Ningbo in eastern China with Felixstowe in Britain through the Northern Sea Route.
The route has been branded the "Ice Silk Road."
Depending on Arctic conditions, the voyage could reduce the normal roughly 40-day sailing time between the ports to about 20 days.
