The vessel arrived from China via the Northern Sea Route. A welcoming ceremony was held at the Murmansk Commercial Seaport, where the crew was personally greeted by Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis. Also attending the event were Chinese Consul General in St. Petersburg Luo Zhanhui, New New Shipping Line CEO Ke Jin, representatives of Chinese companies, the Foreign Economic Activity Center of the Russian-Chinese Guild of Commerce, the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia, the October Railway, as well as management and specialists from Murmansk Commercial Seaport and the Port Alliance.

"The development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is a key task for the country, and we've been working on it for years: a dedicated commission is working, the infrastructure is being prepared, and the transport hub itself is gradually increasing its capacity. We discussed this very issue a year ago at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, when we set the goal of making Murmansk the main container hub in the Arctic. "And today, with the first-ever arrival of a container ship from China at the port along the Northern Sea Route, we have taken the first step toward its implementation. This opens up additional opportunities for utilizing port infrastructure, developing international shipping, and strengthening Murmansk's role as a key hub for Arctic logistics—and thus benefits the entire national economy. But equally important is the benefits this offers to the people. Containers are hermetically sealed cargo, and as the port expands its range of containers, the burden on the city is reduced. "The development of the port as a logistics hub will also create new jobs and increase tax revenue," noted Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region and Chairman of the State Council Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic.

The vessel delivered 502 containers of automobile components to the port. After unloading at Murmansk Commercial Sea Port, the cargo will be shipped by rail to consumers in Central Russia. Rail infrastructure plays a key role in the development of transportation. The Murmansk Transport Hub provides efficient logistics links to the country's main hubs, enabling multimodal transportation and maintaining regular deliveries. Further development of the Murmansk Transport Hub's rail access network, led by the Murmansk Region government, will ensure high-speed freight delivery, even over long distances. This leads to increased competitive freight delivery speeds, which is particularly important for modern logistics chains.

A specialized terminal for container handling was built at the port in 2025 with the support of the Port Alliance holding company. This created the foundation for handling this new type of cargo.

"The arrival of the first container vessel confirms MCP's readiness to handle containerized cargo and expand its range of services for shippers. One of the port's key advantages is its versatility: deep-water berths, year-round navigation, the necessary equipment, and an experienced team allow us to quickly adapt production processes to market demands," emphasized Andrey Riznichenko, Acting Executive Director of MCP. Historically, MCP has specialized primarily in the transshipment of bulk cargo. In the face of changing trade routes and demand patterns, the port is consistently expanding its cargo range and strengthening its universal terminal capabilities, including handling general, regional, and containerized cargo.

After unloading the containers, the vessel will take on 26,400 tons of potash fertilizer from a manufacturer in Central Russia for shipment to countries in Southeast Asia. This will allow us to test a pilot voyage in both directions: receiving containerized cargo from China and exporting Russian fertilizers.

"It is important for us that the voyage allows for operations in both directions. "This format allows us to build a more balanced logistics chain between China, Russia, and the Asia-Pacific region, increasing fleet efficiency and creating a foundation for further cargo flow development," noted Ke Jin, a representative of New New Shipping Line.

Murmansk is the largest ice-free port north of the Arctic Circle with direct access to the World Ocean. Its strategic importance is enhanced by the fact that the NSR route is 40% shorter than the route through the Suez Canal, while year-round navigation, developed infrastructure, and multimodal capabilities make it attractive to shippers. The development of a container service at Murmansk Commercial Seaport is being considered a pilot phase: the possibility of transitioning to a regular service will be determined by voyage results, the sustainability of the cargo base, and the economic viability of the route. The launch of the line will strengthen Murmansk's role as a key port for the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route, as well as expand opportunities for international cooperation and cargo turnover growth. The vessel call is accompanied by a business mission led by Mr. Zhou Liqun, Chairman of the China General Commerce Council. The delegation includes approximately 30 representatives of leading Chinese corporations, including the management of New New Shipping Line, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Geely Automobile, and Alibaba Group, as well as representatives from the tourism, logistics, and trading sectors.

The purpose of the business mission was to explore the investment and transport and logistics potential of the Murmansk Region as a key port for the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route. Before the official ceremony at the port, the delegation met with the Murmansk Region government at the Rodina Center. Developing cooperation with China is a priority on the region's economic agenda. Plans include strengthening export potential, increasing investment, and cementing the Kola Peninsula's status as a key logistics hub in the Arctic zone.