[Anchor]

The Panstar Acro, which is setting sail for a test voyage along the Arctic route carrying containers for the first time in South Korea, is about to weigh anchor from the Busan New Port. Let's go live to the Busan New Port.

Reporter Choi Hyuk-gyu, I can see the Panstar Acro behind you. When is the departure?

[Reporter]

Yes, I am standing in a village on Gadeokdo Island in Busan, overlooking Pier 3 of the Busan New Port.

The ship behind me is the container ship Panstar Acro, which is embarking on a test voyage along the Arctic route.

It will weigh anchor at around 9:30 AM on a historic mission to pioneer the Arctic route.

This is the first test voyage of a South Korean vessel along the Arctic route in 10 years, and the very first time for a container ship.

The Northeast Passage, which passes through the northern waters of Russia among the Arctic shipping routes, spans approximately 13,000 kilometers from Busan to Europe—about 35% shorter than the conventional route via the Suez Canal.

The ship is loaded with chemical products, used cars, and automobile parts.

After passing through the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Poland, it will return to Busan on October 5.

The Panstar Acro is equipped with ice-resistant capabilities to withstand collisions with ice.

It will determine its route by checking sea ice and weather conditions without separate assistance from Russian icebreakers.

[Seo Myung-won / Captain of the Panstar Acro: We judge that the sea ice will have melted completely by the time we arrive, and if it has not completely melted, we will take an alternative route....]

The government plans to verify the economic viability and safety of the Arctic route by analyzing the shipping distance, duration, fuel consumption, and costs.

Pioneering the Arctic route signifies South Korea cementing its status as a global logistics hub while completing its maritime capital region, so people nationwide are hoping that this voyage will conclude successfully.

(Video capture: Kwon Yong-guk / KNN, Video editing: Chae Chul-ho)

Choi Hyuk-gyu, KNN