As China starts a weekly container shipping service to Europe via the Arctic route, some people wonder if it's worth the effort.

"Clerc himself says there are three problems to be solved before the route gains traction. The first is geopolitical, with sanctions on Russia making it currently off-limits for most shipping groups. Then, there are environmental considerations around any potential accident in the Arctic."

“The third one is commercial: because it’s relatively unpredictable when the route opens and closes, there is no commercial demand to switch. Customers don’t want you to flip-flop because their entire lead times get thrown in the air, and it’s very difficult to plan with this,” adds Clerc."

The service is from Ningbo (a major Chinese port city) to Felixstowe in England, with onward connections to Rotterdam and other European ports.

I get that cutting shipping times in half cuts costs, but as shipping is becoming more automated, aren't they falling anyway? Plus, China has already got the China-Euro rail connection working with regular rail cargo connections to Europe. It's the same length of time as the Arctic Sea route, but seems much less problematic.

A reality check is needed on Arctic shipping: It will take a long time before new routes become more than a niche commercial activity