▲ A South Korean container ship, the PanStar Acro, sails through the Arctic route on Aug. 31, 2026, in this file photo provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean container ship arrived in Britain on Saturday after sailing through the Arctic route, marking the first such voyage by a Korean container ship to Europe, the maritime ministry said.

The PanStar Acro departed from the southeastern port city of Busan on Aug. 22, entered the Northern Sea Route on Aug. 31 and arrived in Felixstowe, Britain, its first European port of call, 21 days after its departure.

It is scheduled to call at Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Sept. 13 and Gdansk in Poland on Sept. 16 before returning to Busan on Oct. 12, according to the ministry.

President Lee Jae Myung congratulated the ship on its first voyage through the Arctic route.

"I congratulate and thank the captain and crew members who pioneered this historic Arctic route," Lee wrote on social media platform X. "Let's wish the PanStar Acro a safe return and a successful exploration of the Arctic route."

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