Seven Chinese vessels are set to sail to Europe via Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR), as plans move forward for a regular container shipping service through the Arctic. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which operates the Northern Sea Route, said it has issued permits for seven Chinese transit vessels. Meanwhile, Chinese container carrier Sea Legend Shipping plans to launch what Rosatom described as the first regular container service to Europe via the NSR. Regular container service planned via Northern Sea Route The planned service represents a shift from previous container voyages through the Arctic route. Earlier container shipments were mainly experimental or operated as individual voyages. However, the 2026 programme is designed as a regular service. “Unlike previous container shipments via the Northern Sea Route, which were largely experimental or one-off in nature, the 2026 programme provides for a fully-fledged regular service with vessels sailing every week throughout the navigation season,” said Alexei Likhachev, Head, Rosatom. The development could increase the role of the Northern Sea Route in container trade between Asia and Europe. Russia has promoted the Arctic corridor as an alternative shipping route between the two regions. However, higher operating costs and seasonal ice conditions have limited its development. Russia sees growing role for Arctic shipping route According to Likhachev, changing geopolitical and logistics conditions could increase the importance of the Northern Sea Route. He pointed to the deteriorating situation in the Persian Gulf, including developments around the Strait of Hormuz. He also cited wider political and logistics uncertainty. Russia has long sought to develop the NSR into a major international shipping corridor. The route runs through Arctic waters along Russia’s northern coastline. Its development could provide another connection between Asian and European markets, although na