China's Tian En ice-class cargo ship crossed the Bering Strait on Friday, beginning its maiden voyage along the Arctic's Northeast Passage. Tian En is delivering wind power equipment to Europe along a waterway known as the "Polar Silk Road." The new sea passage is much shorter, saving about 12 days and 300 tonnes of fuel compared with the traditional route that passes through the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal and Atlantic Ocean.