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BUSAN PORT: South Korea sent its first trial container ship through the Arctic on Saturday, as the Middle East war rattles global shipping, while environmental groups warned the route could accelerate polar ice melt.
The Middle East conflict, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has roiled global shipping, sending governments and shipping firms scrambling to seek alternative routes.
Sailing from Busan New Port, the “PanStar Acro” container ship is to sail to Europe via the Arctic, testing whether a route opened by melting sea ice can be commercially viable.
“We would like to inform you that the vessel for the Arctic route trial voyage departed” at 9:30pm, Seoul’s oceans ministry said. The ship is headed for Felixstowe in Britain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Gdansk in Poland before returning, with the voyage expected to take about 45 days, according to the ministry.
