Sea Legend Line initiates container services via the Northern Sea Route, enhancing trade between China and Northern Europe.
Chinese Sea Legend Line Launches Regular Container Line on the Northern Sea Route
Chinese shipping company Sea Legend Line is preparing to launch regular container transportation between China and Northern Europe via Russia's Northern Sea Route (NSR). If the company's plan comes to fruition, it will be one of the first regular container services utilizing the Arctic region.
Sea Legend Line attracted international maritime attention with its first trial voyage over the Northern Sea Route in September 2025. The company announced that this voyage set one of the fastest maritime transportation records between China and Northern Europe.
Permits Completed for the 2026 Season
Russia's nuclear energy company Rosatom has announced that the necessary permit processes for the Northern Sea Route for the 2026 season have been completed, and the season is planned to last until November.
Rosatom, designated by the Russian government as the authority responsible for managing the Northern Sea Route, monitors the passage of vessels through a permit system by dividing the route into 28 separate sections. While the navigation of vessels is closely monitored, Russian icebreakers can accompany commercial ships when necessary.
According to data reported by the Financial Times, container ships made 23 voyages on the Northern Sea Route in 2025. This number was recorded as 15 in 2024. However, a significant portion of previous voyages consisted of one-off or demonstration operations rather than regular commercial routes.
Decreasing Ice Makes the Route More Accessible
The decline in Arctic sea ice is a significant factor in the increasing commercial interest in the Northern Sea Route.
The Financial Times reported, based on data from researchers at the University of Southampton, that the maximum sea ice extent in the Arctic decreased by 5.8% during the winter period of 2024-2025. This decline is noted as the largest reduction observed since measurements began.
Although a limited recovery in ice cover is expected in 2026, it is stated that the level remains at the second lowest recorded level.
Dubai Tower Prepares for Its Maiden Voyage
One of the vessels that Sea Legend Line will use in its 2026 season operations will be the Dubai Tower.
The Liberia-flagged container ship, with IMO number 9433066, was built in 2010. The ship has a carrying capacity of 23,338 dwt and a container capacity of 1,740 TEU, and it is planned to dock at Zhoushan Port in China on August 11 to begin loading operations.
Dubai Tower is expected to depart towards Europe via the Northern Sea Route on August 15 and reach Felixstowe Port in the UK within approximately 20 days.
Sea Legend Line's last voyage is planned for October 3, with the final arrival at Felixstowe scheduled for October 24. The company aims to transform its voyages into a weekly service model.
Sea Legend describes its route as the 'Ice Silk Road,' while officially naming the service 'China-Europe Arctic Express.'
Sea Legend Fleet Receives Licenses for Seven Ships
The company is reported to have passed the vessel named Istanbul Bridge through the Northern Sea Route in 2025. The ship, with a carrying capacity of 66,781 dwt, is among those licensed for the route in the 2026 season.
It is reported that Sea Legend Line has received licenses for a total of seven ships for its Northern Sea Route operations this season. The company's total fleet consists of 17 vessels. In addition to the Arctic route, Sea Legend also operates on traditional European routes through the Suez Canal and along routes to the Middle East and Africa.
Other Chinese Companies on the Route
Sea Legend Line will not be the only Chinese company using the Northern Sea Route in the 2026 season. Chinese Yangpu Newnew Shipping is also expected to continue its activities on the route.
Newnew Shipping's vessel named Newnew Polar Bear came into the spotlight during investigations related to damage to the underwater infrastructure between Finland and Estonia in 2023. Following the incident, attention towards Chinese vessels operating on the Northern Sea Route has increased.
The China Shipowners' Association has announced that bulk carriers are also expected to operate on the Northern Sea Route this season, with some vessels making calls to Russia's Murmansk and Arkhangelsk ports.
Arctic Transportation Brings Environmental Discussions
The increase in commercial use of the Northern Sea Route has drawn criticism from environmental organizations.
The Norway-based Bellona Foundation criticized the commercial ship passages through the Istanbul Bridge and the Northern Sea Route last year. The organization highlighted concerns regarding the ship's age and suitability for the harsh ice conditions of the Arctic region, arguing that the use of heavy fuel oil poses environmental risks.
South Korea Also Enters the Arctic Route
Amid these discussions, South Korea is also accelerating its own commercial plans for the Northern Sea Route.
The South Korean government and maritime sector plan to launch the first trial voyage conducted by PanStar at the end of this month. The Seoul administration argues that the operations will be conducted in accordance with international regulations and that South Korean services could provide a more compatible and sustainable alternative compared to China-based operations.
PanStar aims to establish a regular commercial service over the Northern Sea Route in the coming years by utilizing data on navigation, operations, and ice conditions obtained from the trial voyage in 2026.
The plans of China and South Korea strengthen the potential for the Northern Sea Route to evolve beyond one-off trials into an alternative corridor for commercial transportation between Asia and Europe. However, ice conditions, environmental impacts, Russia's control over the route, and geopolitical developments in the Arctic region will continue to be decisive factors in the future commercial success of the route.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
