CJ Korea Express First to Use Polar Route

CJ Korea Express has started commercial operations by way of a polar route. (Image : Kobizmedia / Korea Bizwire)

Seoul, July 20 (Korea Bizwire) – CJ Korea Express has started commercial operations by way of a polar route.

CJ Korea Express announced that their ship, the KOREX SPB No.2, departed the port of Musyapa, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is on its way to the Yamal peninsula in Russia.

The ship has a 4,000ton offshore terminal for polar regions on board, and will sail through the Arabian Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea on its way to the the Arctic Ocean, arriving at Noviy Port in Russia by the end of August.

The ship is expected to travel a distance of 16,700 kilometers, with 500 kilometers passing through the North Pole Route, which connects the Far East and Europe.

CJ Korea Express said that it is the first time that a Korean shipping company uses the North Pole Route for commercial purposes.

With their experience in shipping equipment for nuclear and thermal power plants, facilities for large industrial plants, and many other types of cargo, the company is confident they will be able to deliver the freight successfully.

Since sailing through the Arctic Ocean requires knowledge about the characteristics of seas in polar regions, four staff members, including the navigator, have undergone training at the Ministry of Marine and Ocean Affairs and the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT). Also, to safely pass through pirate-infested waters like Aden peninsula and the Arabian Sea, armed guards will be present on board the ship.

CJ Korea Express expressed optimism about the ship’s voyage, noting, “The journey is meaningful in terms of what we can gain from the experience of sailing through the Arctic Ocean, and could open opportunities for making more passages through the North Pole Route”.

By M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)