Shipping

South Korea Selects Operator for First Arctic Container Trial Voyage via Russia's Northern Sea Route

South Korea has preliminarily selected Panstar Line to operate its first trial container voyage along Russia's Northern Sea Route (NSR), following a public tender issued on April 27 by the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) and Korea Shipping Association (KSA). The 3,000 TEU vessel will depart from Busan, transit Russia's Arctic corridor with a stop in Tromsø, continue to Rotterdam and return to South Korea. The project, expected to depart in September 2026, forms part of Seoul's broader strategy to position itself as a future Arctic shipping hub and develop alternative trade corridors between Asia and Europe.