China’s Sea Legend Shipping will resume its China-Europe Arctic Express (CAX) service this year, once again using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to connect Ningbo with the UK port of Felixstowe, according to DynaLiners.
The carrier launched the seasonal service in 2025, but only completed a single voyage as operations began late in the Arctic navigation window.
For the 2026 season, Sea Legend plans to operate eight sailings between mid-August and late October, significantly expanding the service.
The route will be served by seven vessels with capacities ranging from 1,500 TEU to 4,900 TEU.
The Northern Sea Route offers a shorter connection between Asia and Northern Europe during the Arctic summer, when ice conditions allow commercial navigation, providing carriers with an alternative to traditional routes through the Suez Canal.
