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“Polar Silk Road” – A Partial Substitute to Strait of Hormuz in International Trade (Between Asia & Europe)

CSNN India Desk · Original Commentary

“Polar Silk Road” – A Partial Substitute to Strait of Hormuz in International Trade (Between Asia & Europe)

Geopolitics Maritime Trade Arctic · Asia · Europe 25 August 2026
Nandini Dash — Journalist and Contributor for CSNN India Desk
Written by Nandini Dash Journalist & Contributor for CSNN – India Desk
CSNN India Desk
International Trade & Geopolitics

01 · Strategic Frame

Cooperation, competition and confrontation

International relations is a matter of cooperation, competition and confrontation.

To reduce the ongoing trade blockage and find a way out, “Polar Silk Road” becomes a substitute to strait of Hormuz.

While initially declared by China and Russia in 2017, presently ‘Polar Silk Road’ in Arctic’s Northern Sea Route is the spot of cooperation of China, India and South Korea to carry on trade with European countries.

‘Polar Silk Road’ concept is inspired by ancient Chinese network of ‘Silk Road’, land and sea routes used for international trade between the east and west.

“Polar Silk Road” is meant to be in the Arctic ocean using melting polar ice caps (as a result of climate change) and open the trade path to make smooth export and import between Asia and Europe.

02 · Trial Voyage

From Busan New Port to Europe

On 22August 2026, South Korea’s Pan Star Group vessel Pan Star Acro started a trial container sailing from Busan New Port to Europe.

The destinations mentioned by https://english.aawsat.com/

“The ship will leave for Felixstowe in Britain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Gdansk in Poland. Before returning with the voyage expected to take about 45 days.”

Voyages and destinations named in the original manuscript

Pan Star Acro
Busan New Port Felixstowe Rotterdam Gdansk
Dubai Tower
Ningbo Felixstowe Hamburg Gdynia

03 · China–Europe Passage

From Ningbo toward Northern Europe

On 15th August 2026, China initiated the ‘Polar Silk Road’ voyage with ‘Dubai Tower’.

A Liberian flagged container vessel ‘Dubai Tower’ is operated by Sea Legend, a shipping company managed from China.

‘Dubai Tower started its journey from Ningbo Port, located in Zhejiang province,

eastern part of China.

The vessel targets to reach at Felixstowe of Britain on 7th September 2026. ‘Dubai Tower’ is also planned to arrive at stops in Hamburg of Germany, and Gdynia, a major seaport city in northern Poland.

04 · Access and Trade-offs

A shorter route with structural limits

India is also planning to use the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route in near future.

Pros and Cons of the “Polar Silk Road” at the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route (NSR)-

  • It is seasonal. The period is summer to early autumn only suitable to navigate.
  • Russia’s territorial water makes countries to seek permission from Russia. Those countries which have strained trade relations with Russia have high chances of not getting approval to sail through.
  • It can handle at most tiny percentage of global trade. A study report published in the journal ‘Sustainability’ in April 2026, titled “How Sustainable Is Arctic Route Diversification?” says,

    the Arctic route would offset only about 1.1–3.6% of global economic losses from a Hormuz closure.

  • Nevertheless, it narrows down distances. According to https://arcticportal.org/

    “The Northern Sea Route runs from the Bering Strait along Russia’s northern coast towards the Barents Sea, providing a shorter connection between China and northern Europe.”

  • Avoids Middle East conflicts. Southern chokepoints and the Hormuz–Bab el‑Mandeb–Suez corridor.

05 · Closing Perspective

A connecting point between continents

“Polar Silk Road” – a partial substitute to Strait of Hormuz in International Trade, is a connecting point between continents of Asia- Europe and maintaining cross border trade.

Sources in the manuscript

References named by the author

Source 01 Asharq Al-Awsat · English english.aawsat.com
Source 02 Arctic Portal arcticportal.org
Study named in text “How Sustainable Is Arctic Route Diversification?” Sustainability · April 2026
Nandini Dash — CSNN India Desk

CSNN India Desk · Author Profile

Nandini Dash

Journalist & Contributor for CSNN – India Desk

Nandini Dash is an Indian citizen journalist, author and academician with over fifteen years of experience in journalism, education and international communication. She has worked with China Radio International in Beijing, contributed to CNN iReport, taught in colleges in India and China, and published articles in China Daily and Life Plus Magazine. She holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and a Certificate in Digital Journalism from Reuters.

Citizen JournalistAuthorAcademicianIndia Desk
This contribution is presented as an author analysis. The wording, characterisations and factual assertions in the submitted original English manuscript remain attributable to the author.
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