Forwarding, Freight News, Sea


Davies Turner offers northern alternative for Far East to Europe shippers

[ August 20, 2026   //   ]

Davies Turner is offering a seasonal FCL shipping service between China and the UK via the Northern Sea Route, on sailings operated by China’s Sea Legend shipping company. Unlike Far East-Europe services that transit the Suez Canal or route around the Cape of Good Hope, the Polar Silk Road travels via the Northern Sea Route, dramatically shortening the sailing distance and reducing overall transit times during the Arctic navigation season.

The route has until recently been considered a mainly regional option but increased ice-melt has made it more viable for Far East to Europe traffic. It offers a voyage length of only 13,000km compared with 20,000km via Suez. However, it requires Moscow treats it permits and fees to be paid to the Russian authorities.

Operating for eight weeks between August and October 2026, the Polar Silk Road service will provide importers with an alternative to conventional ocean, rail and air freight with an almost weekly frequency and transit time of 21 days from Ningbo to Felixstowe, while more cost-effective than rail and air services, says the forwarder.

Davies Turner will consolidate cargo from six major Chinese ports, including Dalian, Fuzhou, Nansha, Qingdao, Shanghai and Taicang at Ningbo before sailing to Felixstowe for distribution throughout the UK and Europe.

Head of ocean for Davies Turner, Tony Cole, said: “By offering this seasonal Northern Sea Route service, we are expanding the multimodal options available to our customers. The Polar Silk Road provides an excellent solution for time-sensitive shipments that need to arrive faster than conventional ocean freight but without the higher costs associated with air transport.”

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