Chinese ship starts landmark voyage along Arctic’s Northeast Sea Route

The Yong Sheng is on its way to Europe from China via the Northeast Passage. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

The voyage of the Chinese merchant ship Yong Sheng, now en route to the Western European marine gateway of Rotterdam via the Northeast Sea Route, also called the Northeast Passage, has attracted the attention of marine and Arctic observers around the world.

That’s because the vessel’s trip is first for a commercial ship from China — and, if the planned 33- to 35 -day voyage goes well, it’s expected to open the door to more shipping between China and Europe.

The trip is about 12 to 15 days shorter than the current route, which is much longer, and requires ships to travel around India and through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean and ports in Europe.

The vessel, operated by Cosco Shipping, set off last week is is expected to arrive in the Bering Strait on Aug. 25 and in Rotterdam around Sept. 11.

At 5,437 kilometres, the Northeast Sea Route is gaining more popularity as a transit route, with 372 permits granted in 2013, up from four in 2010.

Currently, 90 percent of China’s trade is carried out by sea, the China Daily reports.

The value of that trade is expected to increase China’s trade to $7.6 trillion annually by 2020, the Polar Research Institute of China forecasts, if the new route cuts shipping times between Asian and European ports by about one-third.