As the Panstar ACRO, the first domestic container ship to pioneer the Arctic route, safely entered its destination in the United Kingdom, President Lee Jae-myung conveyed congratulations.
On the 12th, the president said on his social media, X (formerly Twitter), "Captain Seo Myeong-won and all crew members who opened the historic first path of the Arctic route, congratulations and thank you," and added, "Please also wish for the safe return of the Panstar ACRO and the successful pioneering of the Arctic route."
He then shared a related post by Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo and said, "Mayor Jeon Jae-soo and citizens of Busan, we support Busan's dream as a maritime capital and the full-fledged pioneering of the Arctic route," adding, "As promised, with strong drive and support, we will bring forward the era of the Arctic route and the maritime capital Busan."
The Panstar ACRO, which departed Busan Port on the 22nd, arrived at its first destination, the Port of Felixstowe in the United Kingdom, at about 5 a.m. on the 12th Korea time, 21 days after the voyage began.
The Panstar ACRO, a 2,758 TEU-class container ship (1 TEU is one 20-foot container), departed carrying 737 TEU of cargo including chemical products, used cars, and auto parts, and 837 TEU including empty containers.
The Panstar ACRO is scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on the 13th. It will then call at Gdansk, Poland, on the 16th, pass back through the Arctic Ocean, and return to Busan. Arrival at Busan is expected on the 12th of next month.
The Arctic route, a sea lane created as the area of Arctic sea ice rapidly shrinks due to climate change, is drawing attention as the shortest route connecting Asia and Europe.