China launched a weekly container service to Europe via Arctic waters on Saturday, as the Dubai Tower departed Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province. The sailing marked the start of regular summer operations on the China-Europe Arctic Express following a trial voyage last year.

Traveling along Russia's Northern Sea Route, the new service can cut the journey from Ningbo to Felixstowe in Britain by half to about 20 days. The first voyage is carrying energy-storage units, solar equipment and other high-value, temperature-sensitive goods.