South Korea ship to test Arctic commercial route amid Western concerns

A South Korean container ship, the PanStar Acro, is set to sail Saturday on the country’s first commercial voyage through the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route to test viability and support Busan’s bid to become a global maritime hub. The 2,758 TEU vessel will travel north along eastern Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, cross the Bering Sea, and then use the Northern Sea Route. It is expected to take 40 to 45 days, with calls in Britain’s Felixstowe, Rotterdam, and Poland’s Gdansk before returning. The ship plans to carry 837 TEU, including auto parts and chemical products. Officials have consulted Moscow about potential issues such as ice.