HONG KONG, Sept 22 (Reuters) -

Chinese-controlled container line Sea Legend will launch the

first direct China-Europe route via the Arctic this week, the

Global Times reported on Monday, in a move set to almost halve

express shipping times between the two locations.

Sea Legend will send its first ship via the North Sea

Route (NSR) on September 24, the state-run newspaper reported,

citing a statement from the Ningbo Zhoushan Port.

The journey is expected to take about 18 days, it said.

Goods from China have long travelled to Europe around

the Cape of Good Hope, taking at least 40 days, but the loss of

Arctic sea ice driven by global warming has made the NSR

increasingly accessible.

Over the past four decades, the Arctic has warmed about four

times faster than the global average, resulting in a dramatic

reduction in sea ice and creating seasonal windows for

commercial shipping.

Container ship Istanbul Bridge will leave Ningbo Zhoushan on

Wednesday and is expected to arrive in Felixstowe, Britain's

largest container port, on October 10, the Global Times said.

The shorter journey is expected to reduce carbon emissions

by about 50%, it added, citing the port.

Ningbo Zhoushan Port did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

While shorter voyages can reduce fuel use and lower

voyage-level CO₂ emissions, climate experts warn increased

traffic in the Arctic increases environmental risks and

disturbances to marine mammals. It can also pose heightened

safety challenges due to extreme weather and limited supporting

infrastructure.

The previous fastest route for China-Europe express

shipping was 26 days from Ningbo Zhoushan to Wilhelmshaven in

Germany, the paper said, citing the port. The route began

operations last year.