Russia and China have expanded trade links through the Arctic, and have now reached Murmansk with the first Chinese container ship arriving at the northern Russian port of Murmansk via the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Rosatom announced on Monday. Beijing has described the growing cooperation as part of its Ice Silk Road initiative.
NewNew Shipping Line CEO Ke Jin announced plans to deploy six new Arctic-class container ships on the NSR, each capable of carrying around 4,800 standard containers. Four are due to enter service in October, enabling two voyages a month between Chinese and Russian ports, with another two expected to join the fleet in June 2027. NewNew Shipping Line has operated along the NSR since 2023, although its vessels have generally carried cargo to ports in Russia’s Far East or the Baltic, relying on Russian ports and icebreakers. State atomic energy corporation Rosatom oversees the route’s development, navigation, infrastructure, and maritime safety.
