Rosatom authorizes weekly Chinese container ships on Arctic Northern Sea Route to Europe

Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear enterprise that manages the Northern Sea Route, announced on August 7 that it has granted transit permits to seven Chinese container vessels. The ships, operated by Sea Legend Shipping, will begin a scheduled weekly service linking China with Europe, a step up from previous occasional or trial shipments. Alexei Likhachev, the head of Rosatom, said the 2026 program establishes a continuous line of vessels sailing each week during the ice-free season.

Moscow has long envisioned the Arctic passage as an alternative to the Suez Canal, though higher costs and seasonal ice have limited rapid adoption. Likhachev added that the route is gaining relevance as the situation in the Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, becomes more volatile and overall logistical and political risks rise.