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Global Ports’ FCT terminal handles a new vessel to deliver cargo between Russia and China via the Northern Sea Route

First Container Terminal in the Big Port of St. Petersburg (FCT, part of Russia’s leading marine container terminal operator Global Ports, whose main shareholder is Delo Group) on July 6-7, 2023 handled the first containership of the international shipping line Hainan Yangpu NewNew Shipping Co, which will pass through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to China.

NewNew Polar Bear is a reinforced ice-class containership with a capacity of 1,600 TEU. The Chinese line Hainan Yangpu NewNew Shipping Co in partnership with its cargo agent Torgmoll and Global Ports Group has performed direct regular container transportation between Russian Baltic basin and PRC ports since March 2023. Previously, shipments within the service were only made through the Suez Canal.

The vessel left FCT in St. Petersburg on July 7, 2023. On board are export goods of Russian manufacturers, mainly of wood processing enterprises from the North-Western region. The containership will pass through the Arctic basin. Estimated transit time is 28 days depending on ice conditions. It is one and a half times faster than the route through the Suez Canal, which takes 45-50 days. In China, the vessel will call at Qingdao and Tianjin ports, the final destination point will be Shanghai.

In 2023 navigation season, the shipping line plans to use four vessels on the Northern Sea Route to operate between ports of China and Russia’s ports of St. Petersburg (FCT terminal) and Kaliningrad. Containerships’ capacity will vary from 1,600 to 3,500 TEU. Another 1,600 TEU-vessel will operate between China and the port of Arkhangelsk, also via the Northern Sea Route. < Back to list