Chinese ice-class cargo ship Tian En on Friday crossed the Bering Strait, starting its maiden voyage in the Arctic's Northeast Passage, a waterway known as the "Polar Silk Road."

Tian En, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co.'s multi-functional ship, is delivering wind power equipment to ports in France, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The sea passage is the shortest route linking northeast Asia and northern Europe, saving about 12 days and 300 tons of fuel compared with the traditional route that passes through the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal and Atlantic Ocean.

Although the route is shorter, the ship will have to contend with icebergs.

"We have entered the Arctic Circle or the traditional polar route. We are sailing from east to west and this route is called the Arctic's Northeast Passage. The ice thickness is about 0.5 to one meter, according to the information we have learned. After four days of traveling, we will reach an area where the ice thickness is less than 0.5 meters. Our ship is ice-class and can sail under the current condition without hiring an icebreaker," said Chen Xiangwu, Tian En's captain.

This year, China will have seven ships pass through the Arctic's Northeast Passage, which will allow Chinese goods to reach nine European countries.

In a white paper declaring its Arctic policy earlier this year, China pledged to further cooperate with other countries to jointly build the Polar Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Sources:ecns

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