"Reach Europe 10 Days Faster"... First Korean Container Ship Departs on Arctic Route

Panstar Acro to Depart Busan New Port at 8 p.m. on August 22

Port Calls in the UK, Netherlands, and Poland... Return Scheduled for October 5

Compared to the Suez Route, Distance Shortened by 7,000 km and Time by 10 Days

The pilot voyage of the Arctic route, which connects Asia and Europe via the shortest possible distance, began on August 22 at Busan New Port. By using the Arctic route, the one-way distance can be shortened by 7,000 kilometers, and the time reduced by approximately 10 days compared to the conventional Suez Canal route. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to use this pilot voyage to comprehensively evaluate the economic feasibility and route stability for commercial use, and will subsequently specify the types of cargo, operational conditions, and policy support needed to establish regular routes.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on August 22, the Panstar Acro, the first Korean container ship to embark on a pilot voyage along the Northern Sea Route, has completed all preparations and is waiting to depart. The vessel is scheduled to depart from Busan New Port at 8 p.m. and will return to Busan Port after 45 days.

The 'Panstar Acro' preparing for its first Arctic route trial voyage is docked at Busan New Port on the 22nd. The Acro is scheduled to set sail at 8 p.m. on the 22nd. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

The Arctic route is largely divided into the Northern Sea Route, the Northwest Passage, and the trans-Arctic route. The pilot voyage is taking place along the Northern Sea Route, a maritime path that passes through the Arctic Ocean along the Russian coast, connecting East Asia and Europe. The Panstar Acro will depart from Busan, travel through the Northern Sea Route, call at Felixstowe in the UK, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Gdansk in Poland, and then return to Busan Port via the same route around October 5.

The Panstar Acro is scheduled to depart from Busan New Port on August 22 and enter the Arctic Ocean around August 30. It plans to pass through the Arctic region around September 7, making its first port call at Felixstowe in the UK on September 9. Next, it will call at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands around September 11 and Gdansk in Poland around September 15 before returning to Busan New Port around October 5. The total expected voyage duration is 45 days. A Ministry official stated, "Depending on weather conditions in the Arctic, the actual route and schedule may change, but it is expected to take approximately 20 days to travel from Busan Port to Rotterdam—a distance of 13,000 kilometers—one way. This distance is 7,000 kilometers shorter and about 10 days faster compared to the Suez route (20,000 kilometers)."

The Acro is set to transport approximately 737 TEU (where 1 TEU is a 20-foot container) of various cargo including chemical products, used cars, and auto parts, as well as 100 empty containers, totaling 837 TEU. By transporting actual cargo, this voyage will verify the technical, environmental, and commercial viability of the Northern Sea Route, as well as gauge demand from cargo owners and logistics companies.

The 'Panstar Acro' is preparing to set sail for its first trial voyage on the Northern Sea Route. The Acro is scheduled to depart from Busan New Port at 8 p.m. on the 22nd. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

This voyage is not only Korea's first pilot container ship voyage along the Northern Sea Route but also marks the resumption of Korean carrier operations on this route for the first time in 10 years, since 2016. Both the Ministry and the shipping company have placed the utmost priority on safety in preparing for this pilot voyage. All captains and navigation officers boarding the Panstar Acro have completed specialized training for polar navigation; in particular, the current navigation officer of the Araon, who has experience in polar operations, will serve as the chief mate, assisting the captain. During the voyage, a 24-hour communication system will be maintained with the vessel, and in the event of an emergency, prompt action will be taken in accordance with international conventions.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to use this pilot voyage to collect empirical data such as voyage distance, duration, fuel consumption, and operational costs along the Northern Sea Route, and to use this information to develop policies to promote activation of the Arctic route. In addition, alongside the pilot voyage on the Northern Sea Route, the Ministry will also pursue international cooperation to evaluate the feasibility of using the Northwest Passage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.