China launches first regular Arctic shipping route

The "Ice Silk Road" will run along the north Russian coast on its journey between Ningbo on China’s east coast and Felixstowe in the UK. Sea Legend, the Chinese container shipping company behind it, say the region is emerging as a viable alternative to the world’s traditional shipping routes.

Also, officials in Germany say falling water levels on the river Rhine could mean that it split into two separate sections for cargo boats. The river is forecast to drop below ten centimetres this week making part of it too low for commercial shipping and cruises.