Chinese ship makes first journey on Northeast Passage route to Europe - SCMP / AFP | A 19,000-tonne cargo vessel is making the first journey by a Chinese merchant ship to Europe via the Northeast Passage, a shortened route that could revolutionise trade, state media reported yesterday. The Arctic route has become navigable due to global warming melting sea ice and promises to slash journey times by about 12 to 15 days, saving shipping companies and Chinese exporters millions in lower fuel bills and reduced operating costs. ...The new route, now navigable for about four months of the year from the end of July, avoids the politically unstable pinch point of the Suez canal, and trims about 7,000 kilometres off the journey, according to the China Daily. ...Previous estimates have suggested up to 15 per cent of Chinese foreign trade could use the Arctic route by 2020.