South Korea’s Arctic Container Trial Voyage Attracts Just 737 TEU, Far Below Target

South Korea’s first commercial container trial through the Arctic has attracted just 737 TEUs of cargo, well below the 1,300 TEUs initially targeted for the voyage, highlighting the challenge of generating sufficient demand for a new Northern Sea Route service.

The 2,758-TEU PanStar Acro also carries about 100 empty containers, giving it a total container load of 837 TEUs, or roughly 30% of its nominal capacity. The cargo includes chemical products, used cars, and auto parts.

The vessel departed Busan on Aug. 22 and entered Arctic waters on Aug. 31, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. It is