▻https://arcticportal.org/ap-library/news/1998-china-sent-more-than-a-dozen-vessels-through-the-arctic-this-year
Chinese shipping companies have sent a dozen vessels through the waters of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2017, compared to five vessels the previous year. This is the largest fleet of non-Russian flagged vessels to ever operate on the route. In addition, the Xue Long, a Chinese icebreaker, also spent nearly three months sailing the Arctic Ocean, including Canada’s Northwest Passage.
China’s Ocean Shipping Company utilized the route for five transit voyages — three westbound from Asia to Europe and two eastbound from Europe to Asia — and three destination trips to deliver modules for Yamal LNG to Sabetta. Guangzhou Salvage also delivered modules for Yamal LNG. In addition China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation and China’s Oilfield Services Limited conducted seismic and drilling activities in the Kara Sea.
The rapid increase of Chinese activity on the route follows the country’s intent to benefit from the opening of Arctic shipping routes.
“The NSR has officially become part of the maritime component of China’s One Belt One Road project after the publication of China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the State Oceanic Administration’s vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative,” explains Ekaterina Klimenko, Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.