Korea to begin trial operation of Arctic shipping routes in Sept: Oceans Ministry

The government is also set to carry out a trial voyage along the Arctic shipping lanes between the port city of Busan, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands around September, the acting oceans minister said.

“The government intends to conduct a 3,000 20-foot equivalent unit container ship trial between Busan and Rotterdam this year, and fund the development of icebreakers and other polar-class shipping, said acting Oceans Minister Kim Sung-bum at a press conference on Monday.

We will engage a vessel to make the trial voyage, and will consult with Russia in the first half of the year, Kim said, the trial run being to take place about the month of September.

He said that cooperation with Moscow is necessary because Russia is in need of permits of vessels passing through waters concerning the Arctic Routes.

Korea is also trying to open and expand northern shipping corridors to offer shorter and more efficient trade routes between Asia and Europe and transform Busan and other southern regions into an international shipping center.