(MENAFN) The first container vessel to operate along the China-Europe Arctic container express route, the Istanbul Bridge, reached the Port of Gdansk in northern Poland on Sunday, after completing a 26-day journey.

The ship departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang Province, China, on September 23, and transported approximately 4,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo, as reported by a news agency.

The ship made several stops, including at ports in the UK and Germany, before arriving in Poland. Its next destination will be the Netherlands.

The China-Europe Arctic Express Route, which passes through the Arctic's Northeast Passage, offers a much faster alternative to traditional routes, cutting down travel time significantly.

The voyage typically takes about 40 days when passing through the Suez Canal and 50 days via the Cape of Good Hope.

The Istanbul Bridge reached its first European port, Felixstowe in the UK, in just 20 days, a travel time comparable to, or even quicker than, the China-Europe freight train service, which usually takes around 25 days.

Li Xiaobin, the Chief Operating Officer of the route operator Sea Legend Line Limited, highlighted the favorable sea and temperature conditions along the Arctic route, which are especially beneficial for transporting goods that require specific temperature and time-sensitive conditions.

"The low temperatures help preserve certain high-tech components," Li commented.

Looking ahead, Sea Legend Line plans to establish regular summer operations on this route by 2026.

Additionally, the company intends to expand its express service network to Eastern Europe, catering to winter months when the Arctic route becomes impassable.

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