Sea Legend's 'Ice Silk Road' cuts Ningbo-Felixstowe transit to 20 days versus 40 via Suez
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Sea Legend's 'Ice Silk Road' Arctic route from Ningbo to Felixstowe cuts transit time to 20 days, versus 40 days through the Suez Canal and 50 around the Cape of Good Hope. The company announced the service last week after an October test voyage and says it suits heat-sensitive cargo such as lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products. The route runs along Russia's Northern Sea Route as Houthi attacks on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait disrupt Suez Canal traffic.
Key Facts
- A test voyage along the 'Ice Silk Road' route in October took 20 days, compared with 40 days through the Suez Canal and 50 around the Cape of Good Hope.
- The route runs from Ningbo on China's east coast through the Arctic Circle along Russia's Northern Sea Route to Felixstowe in eastern England.
- A July study by Southampton University found Arctic sea ice extent during the February-March winter peak fell by 5.8 percent in 2024-2025, the largest drop on record.
- The Iran-backed Houthis have made the Bab al-Mandeb Strait a no-go route for many ships by targeting shipping linked to Saudi Arabia, disrupting traffic to and from the Suez Canal.
- Sea Legend COO Li Xiaobin said the route suits heat-sensitive and time-critical cargo such as lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products.
Route Details
Sea Legend, a Chinese container shipping company specialising in international trade with North Africa and Turkiye, formally announced the new route last week. The company named the route the 'Ice Silk Road' after China's historic Silk Road route with Europe. The route begins at Ningbo on China's east coast, cuts through the Arctic Circle by running along Russia's Northern Sea Route, and then heads south in the North Sea to terminate at Felixstowe in eastern England. A test voyage along the route last October took 20 days, according to a Xinhua report at the time. Routes through the Suez Canal take about 40 days, and voyages around the Cape of Good Hope take about 50 days.
Middle East Shipping Pressure
In recent weeks, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has become a no-go route for many ships as the Iran-backed Houthis target shipping linked to Saudi Arabia. That has disrupted traffic heading to and from the Suez Canal, the vital waterway connecting West Asia to Europe. Shipping companies have become increasingly interested in alternative Arctic trade routes in recent years as conflicts, such as the US war on Iran, restrict vital routes like the Red Sea and the Gulf.
Climate and Cargo Suitability
Climate change has already caused significant melting of ice in the Arctic. A July study published by researchers at Southampton University found that Arctic sea ice extent during the winter peak phase between February and March fell by 5.8 percent between 2024 and 2025, the largest drop on record. Sea Legend COO Li Xiaobin said the new route is particularly suitable for heat-sensitive and time-critical cargo, such as lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, because of the low temperatures and relatively short distance.
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Sea Legend's 'Ice Silk Road' cuts Ningbo-Felixstowe transit to 20 days versus 40 via Suez
