(Yicai) Sept. 10 -- The Silk Road Maritime weather navigation service for Arctic routes was launched at a recent shipping industry forum to help vessels avoid sea ice, plan safer routes and improve navigation safety in polar waters as Arctic routes gain potential as an alternative shipping corridor amid persistent congestion and geopolitical disruptions along traditional Eurasian routes.

The service, which was developed by the China Meteorological Administration and the Silk Road Maritime Alliance, relies on China’s Fengyun meteorological satellites to establish an Arctic sea-ice monitoring network, integrating numerical forecasting and artificial intelligence algorithms to provide daily sea-ice forecasts for the next 15 days, as well as dynamic monitoring of polar cyclones.

All seven vessels operated by Sea Legend Line on Arctic routes will use the Silk Road Maritime meteorological navigation service this year, providing full weather-support coverage for the Hong Kong-based firm’s Arctic fleet, according to the Arctic Route Meteorological Navigation Service Agreement signed by Sea Legend Line and Fujian Silk Road Maritime Operation at the forum, which ran from Sept. 8 to Sept. 9.

The agreement marks a substantive breakthrough in the regular provision of Chinese weather navigation services in polar waters. It also lays a solid foundation for the large-scale, regular operation of Arctic routes by accumulating critical data and operational experience. Additionally, it contributes Chinese expertise and solutions to the safe and efficient development of Arctic shipping lanes.

This system is China’s first weather navigation service specifically tailored for Arctic routes and has achieved a high level of forecasting accuracy, Li Xiaobin, chief operating officer of Sea Legend Line, told media outlets.

After completing its maiden trial voyage in September last year, Sea Legend Line launched the world’s first China-Europe Arctic container express service in August.

Sea Legend Line aims to maintain navigation through the Arctic for three to four months during the summer months, Li said. Over the next three to five years, the company plans to introduce more ice-strengthened vessels with higher ice-class ratings to extend the navigation season to six to eight months through both summer and autumn.

This could eventually help transform the Arctic to a primary trade route from a backup shipping corridor, Li said.

Climate change has accelerated the pace at which Arctic sea ice is melting during the summer. In addition, traditional Eurasian shipping routes have been facing persistent issues such as congestion and geopolitical disruptions in recent years. As a result, the potential of Arctic shipping lanes as an alternative trade corridor is becoming increasingly apparent.

Russia has set a goal of enabling year-round navigation through the Arctic. South Korea launched its first commercial trial of a container ship on the Arctic route late last month, while India is reportedly preparing to send its first cargo vessel along this route next year.

Editor: Kim Taylor