Risks in the strait of hormuz drive China toward the Arctic trade route

Chinese shipping company Sea Legend has started regular container transportation between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Following the trial voyage conducted by the company in 2025, a regular service schedule was launched during the 2026 Arctic navigation season.

Sea Legend Operations Director Li Xiaobin stated that the crisis in the Middle East has revealed the vulnerability of the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz to regional developments and increased the need to develop alternative trade routes between China and Europe.

Arctic Connection Between China and Europe

Sea Legend’s service departs from China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and reaches Europe via the Northern Sea Route, which runs along Russia’s northern coast. The company plans to operate eight voyages between August and October as part of its 2026 season.

For the first voyage, the 1,740-TEU container vessel Dubai Tower departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan for the Port of Felixstowe in the UK. The program is expected to use seven vessels and operate approximately on a weekly basis.

Sea Legend’s trial voyage on the same route in 2025 was completed in approximately 20 days. According to the Guardian, the direct Arctic passage between Ningbo-Zhoushan and Felixstowe can take as little as 18 days, while the journey via the Suez Canal can take more than 40 days.

Northern European Ports Included in the Schedule

In the 2026 service schedule, Felixstowe has been designated as the main European gateway, while Northern European ports such as Rotterdam, Wilhelmshaven and Gdynia are also included in the service. On the Chinese side, Ningbo-Zhoushan is being used as the main loading point.

The Northern Sea Route passes through Arctic waters along Russia’s northern coast. As the availability of the route depends on seasonal ice conditions, voyages can mainly be carried out during the summer and autumn periods.

Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear energy company, manages navigation permits for the Northern Sea Route and, when necessary, provides vessels with support from nuclear-powered icebreakers.

In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for China and Russia to develop Arctic maritime transportation routes and create a “Polar Silk Road.”