Arctic Express: the first container ship in 2025 delivered cargo from China to Arkhangelsk along the Northern Sea Route

This flight became part of the regular Arctic Express route No. 1, which directly connects the ports of China and Russia through the Arctic waters, offering a logistical alternative to the traditional route through the Suez Canal. The departure from Shanghai took place on July 16, and less than a month later, having traveled thousands of kilometers across the northern seas, the ship docked at the Arkhangelsk port.

Not only the sailors showed efficiency, but also the customs services. Under constant customs supervision, the valuable cargo was carefully unloaded and placed in temporary storage warehouses for subsequent clearance. The staff of the Pomeranian Customs post conducted thorough factual control, and 242 declarations for goods were submitted to the Baltic Electronic Declaration Center. The entire process from arrival to completion of the necessary formalities was organized as efficiently as possible, which allowed minimizing the downtime of the vessel.

But the work of Newnew Polar Bear did not end there. The ship did not return to China empty, but took on board an export cargo of 459 containers with Russian lumber and pulp and paper products. Thus, the flight has become completely two-way, which significantly increases its economic efficiency and strengthens trade relations between the two countries.

The successful completion of this Arctic mission confirms the growing importance of the Northern Sea Route as a reliable and promising transport artery. Despite the difficult climatic conditions, this route demonstrates its competitiveness by reducing the delivery time and distance between the key economic centers of Eurasia. The development of such logistics projects contributes to strengthening international cooperation and opens up new opportunities for the Russian economy.