Lee wishes safe voyage to S. Korea's first Arctic route container ship

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday wished a safe voyage to the Panstar Acro, the first South Korean container ship to undertake a trial run along the Arctic route, saying he hoped "the people join me in wishing a safe journey and return."

Lee posted a video filmed aboard the Panstar Acro to his X (formerly Twitter) account that afternoon, calling the vessel "the first pioneer ship on the Arctic route that will open Busan as the southern maritime capital."

He said the footage was shot Saturday morning as the ship passed through Arctic waters 81 kilometers southwest of Russia's Bolshevik Island, and that the vessel is set to arrive at Felixstowe, Britain — its first port of call — on Sept. 12.

Meanwhile, the Panstar Acro departed Busan New Port on Aug. 22 to become the first South Korean container ship to attempt a trial run on the Arctic route. The 2,758-TEU vessel will cover approximately 6,400 kilometers through Arctic waters. One TEU is equivalent to a single 20-foot container.