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First regular Arctic container service China-Europe Arctic Express set to debut this week, ship operator tells GT_我的网站

一 |     　　迪拜8月10日电　通讯｜中国自动驾驶出租车“驶入”阿联酋　　记者夏晓　温新年　　8月的阿联酋迪拜，中午室外气温接近50摄氏度。

二 |     

    The first cargo ship of the China-Europe Arctic Express berths at Ningbo Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang Province on December 6, 2025. Photo: VCG
A Chinese shipping company has confirmed with the Global Times the plan to launch a regular container service via Russia's Northern Sea Route to Europe this week, marking a new Arctic option for Asia-Europe trade once it sets sail.
Chinese container shipping company Sea Legend Shipping told the Global Times on Tuesday that its vessel Dubai Tower, originally scheduled to depart Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang Province, on August 15, has had its departure adjusted because of weather conditions. The company said it is making internal arrangements for the maiden voyage of the China-Europe Arctic Express Route. 
According to industry observers, the move reflects growing interest in Arctic shipping as global logistics networks continue to diversify beyond traditional canal routes. As polar ice retreats and seasonal navigation windows widen, the Arctic is emerging as a practical alternative for some Asia-Europe shipments, particularly those seeking to avoid congested or geopolitically sensitive sea lanes.
On Monday, the Financial Times reported that Sea Legend would launch the first regular container shipping service through the Arctic this week. The report said the company has branded the service the "Ice Silk Road," a reference to the historical Silk Road linking China and Europe.
The move comes as Arctic shipping increases amid rapidly shrinking sea ice. The Northern Sea Route recorded a record 23 transits last summer, up from 15 in 2024, according to figures cited by the FT.
Sea Legend told the Global Times that, compared with traditional China-Europe routes that can take around 40 days, the Arctic passage could cut transit time by nearly half, reducing the journey to about 20 days under direct service conditions.
The inaugural voyage is expected to call at Qingdao Port, Shanghai Port, Taicang Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China before continuing to European ports including Teesport and Felixstowe in the UK, Hamburg in Germany and Gdynia in Poland. The final domestic calling sequence may still change due to typhoon-related weather conditions.
The service will carry cargo including energy storage containers and related components, power batteries and new energy vehicles - goods that typically require faster transit, stable schedules and controlled transport conditions.
Sea Legend said the Arctic route could offer exporters a new solution in terms of both speed and reliability, as traditional canal and mainline routes face growing uncertainty from congestion, geopolitical disruptions and longer port waiting times.
The company also said the route has cooperation agreements with destination terminals including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Wilhelmshaven and Antwerp, giving vessels priority berthing and a "green channel" advantage that could reduce anchorage delays and logistics costs.
Zhong Zhechao, an international logistics service expert told the Global Times on Tuesday that the move highlights rising interest in using the Arctic region for shipping, with Arctic shipping gradually becoming a practical alternative in the global logistics network as melting ice expands seasonal navigation windows and shipping lines seek to avoid congested and geopolitically sensitive sea lanes.
For exporters - especially cross-border e-commerce firms, manufacturers of seasonal products, and new energy companies - shorter shipping times could ease inventory pressure and reduce working-capital costs by allowing more flexible production and sales planning.
Zhong said this may be particularly valuable for companies racing to meet European sales seasons, as shorter transit times improve responsiveness to overseas demand.
The company also said the Arctic's low-temperature environment may be especially suitable for transporting new energy products such as batteries and energy storage systems, which require heightened attention to safety and thermal-risk considerations during transit.
Looking ahead, Sea Legend aims to achieve roughly four months of stable annual operation within the next three to five years, with a longer-term goal of year-round Arctic navigation within five to ten years.
The launch underscores how Chinese shipping firms are accelerating their Arctic deployment, turning what was once a long-term vision into operational reality.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, in September 2025, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port launched its first China-Europe Arctic container express route. The move was expected to provide strong support for trade enterprises to expand into new international logistics channels, the port said.
In recent years, Arctic shipping routes have increasingly come under the spotlight in the international community and have the potential to become important routes in international trade, Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a press conference in September 2025.
China stands ready to work with Russia and other Arctic states as well as interested countries to strengthen international cooperation on the building and operation of basic infrastructure along Arctic shipping routes and jointly advance the development and exploration of the routes and protect the environment there, Lin said.
。记者在迪拜的朱迈拉海滨打开“萝卜快跑”手机应用，不到两分钟，一辆黑色汽车缓缓停靠路边。没有驾驶员，也没有方向盘。手机解锁车门，凉意扑面而来，车内宽敞整洁，语音提示“请系好安全带”后，车辆平稳起步。　　汽车沿着海滨路驰骋，车窗外，碧蓝的海湾与形如风帆的迪拜卓美亚帆船酒店相映成景。

三 | 无论遇到环岛、信号灯还是车流，自动驾驶出租车都能精准地完成每一次转向和变道。若非驾驶位空无一人，很难让人意识到，这是一辆完全依靠人工智能自主行驶的汽车。　　如今，这样的场景正在迪拜街头越来越常见。　　从“萝卜快跑”到文远知行，再到小马智行，越来越多中国自动驾驶企业正“驶入”阿联酋。随着阿联酋加快建设智慧城市，自动驾驶成为中阿人工智能合作的新亮点。迪拜提出，计划在2030年前将25%的交通工具转换为自动驾驶，这为中国企业提供了广阔的发展空间。　　作为最早进入阿联酋市场的中国自动驾驶企业之一，百度旗下的“萝卜快跑”2025年与迪拜公路和运输管理局签署战略合作协议；今年年初获得全无人驾驶测试许可，成为迪拜首个且目前唯一获准开展全无人测试的平台，并从3月启动商业化运营。　　“萝卜快跑”阿联酋负责人陈强介绍，目前平台运营覆盖迪拜朱迈拉约25平方公里的区域，年底计划扩展至数百平方公里，运营车辆也将增至数百辆。商业化运营以来，不少当地乘客在平台留言评价“上车方便”“车辆行驶平稳”“乘坐体验舒适”“智能、安全”。　　陈强认为，阿联酋开放包容的监管环境，是中国自动驾驶企业在当地加速发展的重要原因。完善的道路基础设施、旺盛的出行需求以及新能源配套，也为商业化运营创造了有利条件。“如果能在迪拜跑通商业模式，就能为拓展整个中东市场提供样板。　　除了“萝卜快跑”，其他中国自动驾驶企业也在中东地区加快布局。　　文远知行目前已在中东部署超过200辆自动驾驶出租车，中东业务已实现经营盈利，并计划进一步覆盖迪拜、阿布扎比和沙特阿拉伯利雅得等城市。　　小马智行也计划于今年下半年在迪拜推出自动驾驶出租车商业化服务。该公司国际传播总监王露迪说，阿联酋消费者对智能汽车和国际品牌的接受度不断提升，政府的支持、完善的数字基础设施和丰富的应用场景，为中国自动驾驶技术落地提供了有利条件。　　迪拜公路和运输管理局局长、董事会主席马塔尔·塔耶尔表示，中国已成为全球交通基础设施、数字技术和人工智能发展的领先力量，迪拜愿意进一步深化与中国企业的长期合作，借鉴其先进技术和解决方案，推动迪拜未来交通项目实现更高水平的效率、质量和可持续发展。　　业内人士认为，随着人工智能、智能汽车、人形机器人等新兴产业合作不断深化，中国企业正以创新能力和产业优势，为中东智慧城市建设注入新的动力。  这是7月31日在阿联酋迪拜街头拍摄的“萝卜快跑”无人驾驶出租车。记者 温新年 摄。

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Published on:01:20:02