Davies Turner offers express container service from China via Northern Sea Route

UK freight and logistics giant Davies Turner is set to launch a new express container shipping service from China to the UK via the Northern Sea Route. The service, called Polar Silk Road, will operate between August and October 2026, offering an alternative to traditional ocean, rail, and air freight options. Operating almost weekly, the Polar Silk Road promises a transit time of just 21 days from Ningbo to Felixstowe, significantly cutting lead times compared to conventional shipping methods while remaining more cost-effective than air freight.

Davies Turner will consolidate cargo from six major Chinese ports - Dalian, Fuzhou, Nansha, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Taicang - at Ningbo before sailing directly to Felixstowe. This service offers a faster ocean solution with reduced transport costs, ideal for time-sensitive shipments. Unlike other routes that pass through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope, the Polar Silk Road utilizes the Northern Sea Route, cutting sailing distance and transit times during the Arctic navigation season.

According to Tony Cole, head of ocean for Davies Turner, this new service expands multimodal options for customers by providing a faster and more cost-effective alternative to air freight. The Polar Silk Road is part of Davies Turner's ongoing investments in its China origin network, reinforcing the company's commitment to innovative, multimodal freight solutions that optimize both transit times and transport costs. The service will run on an eight-week sailing program from August through October 2026.