MSC reaffirms commitment to avoid “Arctic” Northern Sea Route

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company released a statement on September 29, reaffirming its commitment to avoid the “Arctic” Northern Sea Route.

“Trade Asia to Europe – MSC reaffirms it commitment to avoid the “Arctic” Northern Sea Route,” MSC stated in a recent customer alert.

MSC, a large container shipping line, gave several reasons for this decision, mentioning that the Northern Sea Route remains underdeveloped for commercial shipping since safe navigation and transit are not assured.

Additionally, the company said, an increase in the Arctic transit traffic may also impact the fragile ecosystem of the region and the ice caps.

Furthermore, MSC expressed worries that heightened shipping activity in the Northern Sea Route could also affect remote Arctic communities “by congesting existing shipping lanes and slowing down necessary traffic, which is an essential lifeline for their survival and prosperity.”

The company also highlighted in a customer alert that it has “no operational reason” for its fleet and standalone network to transit the Arctic, as it possesses the “capacity and means to safely and reliably transport customer cargo globally without using the Northern Sea Route.”

Full Statement of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

“MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company informs you that we reaffirm our commitment to avoid the Northern Sea Route for the following reasons.

“The Northern Sea Route remains underdeveloped for commercial shipping since safe navigation and transit are not assured.

“An increase in Arctic transit traffic may also impact the fragile ecosystem of the region and the ice caps.

“More ships transiting the Northern Sea Route could also affect remote Arctic communities by congesting existing shipping lanes and slowing down necessary traffic, which is an essential lifeline for their survival and prosperity.

“Furthermore, there is no operational reason for our fleet and standalone network to transit the Arctic, as we have the capacity and means to safely and reliably transport customer cargo globally without using the Northern Sea Route.”