One of the Lee Jae-myung government's key national agenda items, the first voyage to open the "Northern Sea Route," will begin on the 22nd. A ship departing from Busan will pass along the northern coast of Siberia in Russia and call at the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Poland before returning to Busan. Starting with this, the government plans to begin commercial operations in 2030 after five years of pilot operations.
◇ Cutting 20 days from Europe sailings… Korea's first Northern Sea Route voyage begins a 45-day journey
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on the 20th that starting on the 22nd it will conduct a pilot operation of a container ship on the Northeastern Sea Route as part of "securing a new trade route by pioneering the Northern Sea Route."
The Northern Sea Route primarily includes the Northeastern Sea Route (NSR) to Europe and the Northwestern Sea Route (NWR) to North America. The government plans to operate on the Northeastern Sea Route to Europe via the northern coast of Siberia in Russia. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the sailing distance from Busan Port to the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands using the Northeastern Sea Route is about 13,000 km. It can be sailed in about 20 days. That is about 7,000 km shorter than the existing Suez route (about 20,000 km). It is also about half the Cape of Good Hope route (about 26,400 km). In terms of time, it can be cut by 10 days and 20 days, respectively.
Until now, the Northern Sea Route has been difficult to operate due to thick sea ice. To operate, it had to be in summer, or an escort icebreaker had to sail ahead to break sea ice. Operating this way inevitably reduces profitability compared with solo operations. However, as climate warming and navigation technology have advanced, solo operations have become possible even in winter. As of Aug. 15 this year, the Arctic sea ice area was about 5.619 million sq. km, the ninth-lowest level since satellite observations began in 1979.
In particular, amid the recent Middle East war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the need to develop various routes has also been raised.
For this pilot operation, Panstar Line.com's 2,758 TEU (1 TEU is one 20-foot container) container ship Panstar ACRO will be deployed. The ship is 35,708 tons in total and was built in 2011 at GUANGZHOU WENCHONG SHIPYARD in China.
The vessel will depart Busan and call in sequence at Felixstowe in the United Kingdom, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Gdansk in Poland via the Northeastern Sea Route (NSR) along the northern coast of Siberia in Russia. It is then scheduled to return directly from Gdansk to Busan Port. The MOF projects the total sailing period at 45 days. However, it may vary depending on weather conditions in the Arctic waters.
Specifically, entry into Arctic waters is expected on the 30th of this month. After about eight days of sailing, the goal is to pass through the Arctic waters around Sept. 7. The total sailing distance in the Arctic is 6,400 km. The first port call will be around Sept. 9 at the Port of Felixstowe, followed by Rotterdam on the 11th of the same month and Gdansk on the 15th. The goal is to return to Busan New Port around Oct. 5 via the same route.
◇ Transporting cargo such as chemicals, cars, and parts… five-year pilot run, commercial operations targeted for 2030
The ship deployed for this Northern Sea Route operation will carry export cargo from 85 shippers secured through 45 freight forwarders. The total is 837 TEU, including about 737 TEU of cargo and 100 empty containers. By cargo type, chemicals account for the largest share at 43.4% (363 TEU), followed by used cars (141 TEU, 16.8%), auto parts (113 TEU, 13.5%), and metal products (48 TEU, 5.7%).
The volume transported this time is less than what the MOF initially announced. In July, the MOF said it would secure 1,300 TEU of cargo for the Northern Sea Route operation. Excluding empty containers, the actual cargo transported has been reduced to about half.
Lee Su-ho, head of the MOF's Northern Sea Route Promotion Headquarters, said, "We surveyed cargo demand around June, but as it took time to prepare the ship, fewer loads are departing than the actual demand," adding, "For a first voyage, I think it is also meaningful that we prepared roughly this amount of cargo, marketed it, and secured it."
Regarding future cargo items, he said, "After completing the pilot operation, we will identify cargo demand suitable for the route and reach agreements with logistics firms and shipping companies."
Through this pilot operation, the MOF plans to secure empirical data to analyze the sailing distance and duration of the Northeastern Sea Route, fuel consumption, and operating costs. Using this, it plans to identify policy tasks to invigorate the Northern Sea Route. After five years of pilot operations, it aims for commercial operations in 2030.
However, concerns have been raised that variables could arise due to diplomatic situations. Cooperation with Russia is essential to use the Northern Sea Route. European countries are tightening sanctions on Russia, which is at war with Ukraine. Foreign media have also reported that Western countries are expressing discomfort with Korea's pilot operation project for the Northern Sea Route.
Deputy Minister Lee Su-ho said, "We have concluded consultations with the relevant authorities in Russia for the pilot operation," adding, "We will comply with international conventions and norms."
◇ "Safety" is the top priority… crew completed specialized training; veteran polar-navigation officers on board
The MOF said it has prepared the pilot operation with the shipping company, putting safety first. This is because it is the first domestic container ship operation on the Northeastern Sea Route, and it is also the first time in 10 years since 2016 that a Korean shipping company is resuming operations on the route.
Accordingly, the captain and navigating officers boarding the Panstar ACRO have all completed specialized training for operations in polar waters. In particular, the current navigating officer of the Araon, who has polar navigation experience, will serve as chief mate to assist the captain. The Araon is Korea's only icebreaking research vessel, operated by the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).
A system has also been established to respond to variables that may arise during the voyage. A 24-hour constant communication system with the ship will be maintained, and in case of an emergency, swift action will be taken in accordance with international conventions. Deputy Minister Lee Su-ho said, "The area for the pilot operation is high-latitude waters, and low-orbit satellite equipment is essential for real-time communications," adding, "We have set up a system to communicate in real time through the ship and the situation room."