By Jin Yuhan

In the early hours of October 23 local time, the Istanbul Bridge, the first vessel on the China-Europe Arctic container express route, arrived at its final European stop—the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

With the unloading of the last container onboard, the European leg of the China-Europe Arctic route has been successfully completed. The Istanbul Bridge will not return via the Arctic route but will sail back through the Suez Canal instead, picking up more cargo along the way.

Next, the vessel will proceed to ports in Egypt, Turkey, and other locations to load cargo and is expected to return to China in early December.

The ship set sail from Ningbo Zhoushan Port on September 23, taking the Northeast Passage and reaching its first European port, Felixstowe in the UK, in just 20 days. It subsequently called at the Port of Hamburg in Germany on October 15 and the Port of Gdansk in Poland on October 19, before completing all loading and unloading operations at the Port of Rotterdam.

Compared to the approximately 40-day voyage via the Suez Canal and the 50-day voyage via the Cape of Good Hope, this route offers a clear time advantage.

"Next year, we plan to expand our operations in icy waters, starting with regular weekly or biweekly summer services. Building on practical experience, we'll enhance vessel design and fleet capacity, aiming for year-round service on the China–Europe Arctic route," said Li Xiaobin, COO of Sea Legend Line Limited, the operator of this route.

Additionally, during the non-navigable period in winter, the company will launch the Eastern Europe Express route, utilizing a sea-rail intermodal model via the Suez Canal to deliver goods from China to Europe within 25 days. This service is designed to complement seasonal routes and ensure smooth year-round operations.

As part of the "Polar Silk Road", the Northeast Passage on the China–Europe Arctic route is an emerging international shipping corridor linking East Asia and Europe. It plays a key role in improving global supply chain efficiency and strengthening trade ties along the route.