A Chinese container vessel has set sail for Europe through the Arctic as part of a new weekly service on a route that cuts shipment times in half but that environmental groups warn could speed up the melting of polar ice.
  • Sibbo@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    91·
    20 days ago

    Was that possible in previous summers already? Or is this the first year where the arctic sea is free enough of ice?

    • tardigrade@scribe.disroot.orgEnglish
      12·
      20 days ago

      It happened before, as @impolitecarry@lemmy.wtf already posted, but it makes a good headline for OP’s propaganda push.

      As the article also says:

      Environmental groups warn that increasing numbers of ships transiting the shorter NSR could accelerate the loss of Arctic sea ice—already made vulnerable by rising global temperatures.

      Major shipping companies, including France’s CMA CGM, Switzerland-headquartered MSC and Germany-based Hapag-Lloyd, have pledged to “avoid Arctic transshipment routes.”

      But analysts say the Arctic could serve as an important future trade route, particularly for China, which has outlined plans for greater access to the region through a “Polar Silk Road.”

      So the Western capitalists avoid the route to protect the Arctic, but “socialism with Chinese characteristics” pursues other plans. It’s another reason not to buy certain stuff in my humble opinion.

    • impolitecarry@lemmy.wtfEnglish
      7·
      20 days ago

      From the article:

      Other shipping companies have transited the Arctic passage before, with Denmark’s Maersk the first to do so in 2018.

      Last year, 23 container ships transited through, up from 15 in 2024, according to shipping analysis from business insurer Allianz Commercial.