WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2018) The global shipping giant Maersk will test the viability of a shipping route through the Arctic, with a container vessel passing through the Bering Strait in early September and arriving in St. Petersburg by the end of the month, company spokeswoman Concepcion Arias told Sputnik on Friday.
"The specific trial transit route will be as per agreement with Russian authorities after careful evaluation of ice conditions, and ice breaker assistance will be provided as required," Arias said.
The Venta Maersk has already departed Vladivostok and is expected to pass through the Bering Strait after a stop in the South Korean port city of Busan, Arias explained.
"The trial passage will enable us to explore the operational feasibility of container shipping through the Northern Sea Route and to collect data," Arias said.
At present, Maersk does not consider the Arctic viable commercial alternative to existing routes, Arias noted.
Russia is upgrading ports along its Arctic coast, along with transportation links in anticipation that melting sea ice will allow ships from Asia to bypass the circuitous route through the Suez Canal with a shortcut over the top of the world.
