Chinese Container Ship Successfully Arrives at Russia's Murmansk Port for the First Time
en.Wedoany.com Reported - A welcome ceremony for the first Chinese container ship was held at the Murmansk Commercial Sea Port in Russia on the 20th, celebrating the successful launch of the port's first container shipping route from China. This marks the official beginning of regular cargo transportation services connecting China's coastal ports with the largest deep-water port within the Arctic Circle via the Arctic Sea Route.
Luo Zhanhui, Chinese Consul General in Saint Petersburg, read aloud a congratulatory letter from Zhang Hanhui, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, addressed to the ceremony. The letter noted that the successful arrival of a container ship operated by a Chinese enterprise at the Port of Murmansk via the Arctic Sea Route represents the latest achievement in China-Russia Arctic cooperation and a vivid practice of the "Ice Silk Road" transitioning from vision to reality. Murmansk serves as the home port of Russia's icebreaker fleet and the largest transshipment hub along the Arctic Sea Route, playing a key role in the route's regular operations. The voyage, which departed from Tianjin Port and arrived successfully, leverages Murmansk's advantages as a deep-water, ice-free port and Russia's shipping support capabilities, opening an efficient and stable new logistics corridor for enterprises of both countries and injecting new momentum into China-Russia economic and trade cooperation.
Andrei Chibis, Governor of Murmansk Oblast and Chairman of the "Northern Sea Route and Arctic" Commission under the State Council of the Russian Federation, said in his speech at the ceremony that the berthing of the Chinese container ship at the Port of Murmansk is not merely an ordinary logistics operation but is regarded as a symbolic starting point for opening a broad path of cooperation, heralding the imminent launch of large-scale collaboration between the two sides. "Sincere congratulations to all participants. Today is a celebration for everyone. I firmly believe this maiden voyage will pave a grand development corridor." He also extended his best wishes to all crew members and the Russian and Chinese partners.
Ke Jin, General Manager of the Chinese shipping company Xin Xin Yun Shipping, stated that the smooth docking of the Chinese enterprise's container ship marks the official commencement of container transportation along the China-Russia Arctic Sea Route, calling it a "brand-new starting point." The Arctic Sea Route now possesses the conditions to serve as a safe and efficient transport corridor, holding significant strategic importance and practical value. The company plans to launch an ARC7-class container vessel construction project in 2027 and is currently studying the possibility of designating Murmansk as the primary home port for these vessels. "We firmly believe that, with the joint efforts of all parties, the Arctic Sea Route will surely become a golden corridor for China-Russia economic and trade cooperation."
The Murmansk Commercial Sea Port, founded in 1915, currently has 24 cargo yards and 15 berths, with an annual throughput capacity of 24 million tons. It is the only comprehensive port in the Arctic region capable of year-round navigation and direct access to the world's oceans. The "Xin Xin Hai 1" container vessel that successfully berthed this time belongs to the Chinese shipping company Xin Xin Yun Shipping and carries approximately 500 containers. During the event, an unveiling ceremony was also held for the Arctic Development Council of Chinese Enterprises.
