The container vessel RIYADH MUKAAB called at Guangzhou's Nansha Port on August 19, marking the first Arctic shipping service to make a port call in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The maiden voyage connects South China with the northbound "Ice Silk Road" corridor, offering a faster and more resilient export route for the Pearl River Delta.
The vessel is set to call at four Chinese ports: Nansha, Fuzhou, Shanghai and Ningbo before crossing the Arctic Northeast Passage en route to Europe. It is also set to call at Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Gdynia before returning via Tangier. Compared with the traditional Suez Canal route, the Arctic Passage cuts the one-way voyage time by nearly half, saving about 20 days while bypassing congested sea lanes.
Cargo loaded at Nansha Port mainly includes auto parts and light industrial products. The naturally low temperatures of the Arctic help prevent heat-induced degradation of rubber components, slow packaging yellowing and lower performance deterioration risks for lithium batteries, thus improving transport safety and cargo quality.
The new service further expands Nansha's international logistics network, opens up a new northbound trade corridor for the region and bolsters China-Europe economic and trade ties.
Reporter | Li Xindi
Photo | Nansha Customs
