Ningbo unveils 18-day China-Europe Express route to UK

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. [Photo/Tide News]

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is set to launch its new China-Europe Express route on Sept 20, offering a record-breaking 18-day transit to Felixstowe, the United Kingdom's largest container port.

It marks a significant upgrade from the 26-day service to Germany's Wilhelmshaven that was introduced last year — further accelerating China-Europe maritime logistics.

The route will navigate the Northeast Arctic Passage or NSR — connecting Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Gdansk.

Compared with the over 25 days it takes for the China-Europe rail line, the over 40 days shipment time via the Suez Canal and the over 50 days sailing around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, this Arctic shortcut offers a highly efficient alternative — especially for cross-border e-commerce firms that are prioritizing speed.

To ensure safe and stable passage through the polar waters, the service will deploy ice-strengthened container vessels with a capacity of 4,890 twenty-foot equivalent units.

These ships are equipped with advanced ice-breaking technology and proven polar navigation systems, minimizing risks and ensuring reliable delivery.

Timed to align with Europe's Christmas stocking season, the inaugural voyage will offer direct berthing and rapid container handling. Port officials note that the new route reinforces Ningbo-Zhoushan's role as a key trade hub in the Yangtze River Delta — supported by a robust intermodal network that consolidates cargo from across China.

Currently, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port operates a total of 308 container shipping routes — including 24 express lines — and is continuously  expanding its global logistics footprint.