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South Korea completed a trial container voyage through the Arctic on Sunday, testing an alternative shipping route that officials said shortened one-way travel time to Europe by 10 days compared with the conventional route through the Suez Canal.
The PanStar Acro returned to Jaseongdae Pier at Busan Port after departing Aug. 22 and completing a round trip through the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route, South Korea’s Oceans and Fisheries Ministry said.
The vessel traveled along Russia’s northern coast before calling at Felixstowe in Britain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Gdansk in Poland, then returning to South Korea along the same route.
President Lee Jae Myung said the voyage provided South Korea with operational experience in polar waters and helped collect navigation data.
The trip “shortened the one-way sailing time by 10 days compared with the conventional route via the Suez Canal,” Lee said on X.
He said the successful trial would help South Korea “prepare for the era of Arctic shipping routes.”
“We will transform Busan and the southeastern region into a ‘southern maritime capital region’ and ensure that this new sea route becomes a new engine of growth,” Lee said.
The trial comes as conflict in the Middle East, sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has disrupted global shipping and prompted governments and operators to examine alternative routes.
The Northern Sea Route has become more accessible during warmer months as sea ice recedes, although conditions remain unpredictable and some vessels still require icebreaker assistance.
Environmental groups have warned that increased commercial traffic could put further pressure on the Arctic ecosystem and accelerate ice loss.
Major shipping companies, including CMA-CGM, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd, have pledged to avoid Arctic routes because of environmental concerns.
The route also runs along Russia’s northern coast, potentially exposing shipping operators to sanctions-related risks.
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