A Korean vessel intended for testing the Arctic route departed from the port at 21:30 local time, according to the South Korean Ministry of Oceans in a statement sent to the France-Presse (AFP).
The ship belongs to the local company PanStar Line Dot Com and plans to make stops at European ports Felixstowe (England), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Gdansk (Poland) before returning.
According to the ministry, the entire journey will take about 45 days. Despite the fact that this sea route has become more passable due to global warming, it has many limitations that restrain its commercial potential and raise environmental concerns.
Asian countries whose hydrocarbon supplies have been severely affected by the war that began about six months ago following the US-Israeli offensive against Iran are considering this route as a way to diversify their supply options.
South Korea's Vice Minister of Oceans, Nam Jae-hon, recently stated that the Arctic route is intended to be an alternative to routes through the Middle East.
Since the beginning of the year, due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and Houthi threats to cross the Red Sea in the context of the conflict with the United States, maritime transport between Asia and Europe now passes through the Cape of Good Hope, south of the African continent.
According to a study by the insurance company Coface published in April, traveling through the Arctic reduces distances traveled by 30–40% compared to the route through the Suez Canal in Egypt and almost twice as much compared to the route around the Cape of Good Hope.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the most important global routes for transporting oil and gas and has become one of the main points of tension in the conflict between the United States and Iran.