South Korea's first container ship has embarked on a trial navigation of the Arctic route. This marks the first time a South Korean vessel has undertaken such a journey since 2016, and it is the first container ship to operate on this route.
According to Yonhap News Agency, citing the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Fanstar Acro departed from Busan New Port around 9 p.m. on August 22, heading towards Europe.
The voyage is expected to last approximately 45 days. The Fanstar Acro will enter the Northeast Passage on August 30 and is scheduled to pass through the Arctic waters on September 7. It will make stops in Felixstowe, England, on September 9, Rotterdam, Netherlands, on September 11, and Gdansk, Poland, on September 15, before returning to Busan on October 5. The distance covered in the Arctic Ocean is about 6,400 kilometers.
The Arctic route has opened as a new shipping lane due to climate change, which has rapidly reduced the area of Arctic sea ice, providing the shortest route between Asia and Europe.
Prior to departure, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries showcased the loading process of the Fanstar Acro. The vessel, a 2,758 TEU container ship, was acquired by the Busan-based shipping company Fanstar Line from HMM. One TEU represents one 20-foot container.
The Fanstar Acro is equipped for ice navigation. It is carrying 737 TEU of cargo, including chemicals, used cars, and automotive parts. Including empty containers, the total load amounts to 837 TEU.
There are about 20 crew members on board. The captain and navigators have completed specialized training for operations in polar regions. A navigator from the icebreaker Araon, who has experience in polar navigation, is also on board as the chief mate to assist the captain.
The Ministry plans to maintain a 24-hour communication system with the Fanstar Acro throughout the voyage.
According to Captain Seo Myung-won, the Arctic region is experiencing ice melting, but it is not fully open yet. However, it is expected that the ice will have melted by the time the Fanstar Acro arrives.
Captain Seo stated, “If that is not the case, we plan to take an alternate route.” He expressed confidence that real-time access to ice charts and weather services would facilitate decision-making without significant issues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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