Abstract: Compared with traditional commercial navigational routes through the Suez or Panama canals, the Arctic channel represents a convenient route for navigating between eastern Asia, North America and Europe. Advantages of the new route include reductions in distance, transit time, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Analyzes of Northeast Passage geographic data and the economics of navigating ships enable development of appropriate routes and optimal navigation strategies. Navigation through the Northeast Passage will improve the balance of foreign trade for China and have important strategic significance in the economic development of trade not only between China and Europe, but globally.

Key words: Arctic, Northeast Passage, sea ice, seaworthiness, economic analysis