Chinese shipping company Sea Legend is launching the first regular container service through the Arctic, connecting China with the U.K. along Russia’s northern coast, according to a report on Monday.

BFMTV reported that the weekly route, connecting Ningbo with Felixstowe, could cut the usual journey of around 40 days by roughly half, depending on weather conditions.

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 Financial Times (FT).

Shipping companies see the Arctic passage as a way to save time and costs while avoiding geopolitical flashpoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.

However, environmental concerns remain significant.

Increased shipping could disrupt whales, walruses and seals through underwater noise, while an oil spill could have severe consequences because hydrocarbons can become trapped in sea ice.

Navigation also remains hazardous. More than 500 maritime incidents were recorded inside the Arctic Circle over the past decade, nearly half involving machinery failures or damage, according to an Allianz analysis cited by the report.