TWO 1,220-TEU Chinese containerships have set a course for Russia's Northern Sea Route to avoid the war-torn Red Sea and connect China with destinations in Europe, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
The Xin Xin Hai 1 departed from the Port of Taicang near Shanghai on July 5 and has since passed through the Bering Strait and onto the Northern Sea Route. While parts of the route are already free of sea ice for the summer, more challenging conditions in the East Siberian Sea require icebreaker escort for the light ice-class vessel.
Meanwhile its sister ship Xin Xin Hai 2 follows around a week behind. The 29,008-dwt vessel departed from the Chinese port of Rizhao in mid-July and is currently en route to the Bering Strait.
The vessels are operated by New New Shipping Line. The company began operating in the Arctic last summer completing seven voyages between July and December, including a controversial trip by the NewNew Polar Bear resulting in damage to subsea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This summer it aims to expand its operations.
Both vessels are bound for the northwest-Russian port of Archangel before travelling on toward ports in the Baltic Sea.
SeaNews Turkey
The Xin Xin Hai 1 departed from the Port of Taicang near Shanghai on July 5 and has since passed through the Bering Strait and onto the Northern Sea Route. While parts of the route are already free of sea ice for the summer, more challenging conditions in the East Siberian Sea require icebreaker escort for the light ice-class vessel.
Meanwhile its sister ship Xin Xin Hai 2 follows around a week behind. The 29,008-dwt vessel departed from the Chinese port of Rizhao in mid-July and is currently en route to the Bering Strait.
The vessels are operated by New New Shipping Line. The company began operating in the Arctic last summer completing seven voyages between July and December, including a controversial trip by the NewNew Polar Bear resulting in damage to subsea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This summer it aims to expand its operations.
Both vessels are bound for the northwest-Russian port of Archangel before travelling on toward ports in the Baltic Sea.
SeaNews Turkey
