Empire of the Ring

A 2,000-TEU container ship, 50,000-ton bulk cargo ship and an icebreaker were entering the waters of Okhotsk.

On the side of the container ship and the cargo ship were written ‘The Arirang 5’ and ‘The Arirang 9’ in English respectively and the name ‘Kazakhstan 1’ was visible on the icebreaker.

These ships were merchant ships belonging to the Kazakh Royal Shipping Company, which departed Copenhagen, Denmark, and were passing through the Okhotsk Sea, east of Russia, after a twelve-day voyage.

The voyage was a test to run through the Arctic Ocean to the South Korean port of Busan.

Convincing European shippers, Youngho had received orders of 500 20-foot and 40-foot containers, while the bulk ship was loaded with wheat produced in Kazakhstan.

Most of the ships coming back from Busan to Denmark would be carrying only empty containers, so it was difficult to expect revenue.

Due to the perception that it was a dangerous route that had yet to be verified, many shippers had not yet entrusted the cargo.

For that reason, the shipping insurance fee was also set higher than the Southern route going back to the Suez Canal, and if this journey was safely completed, the proper insurance rate would be applied in the future.

“Captain Park. Thank you for your efforts. We will sail to the East Sea. I’ll contact you when I depart from Busan. Please rest in Vladivostok until we get back.”

-We haven’t done much, but I feel embarrassed to take a rest.

“We need an icebreaker to go back. Make yourself at home for that.”

During the journey from Copenhagen to the Sea of Okhotsk, there was only some floating ice, so they did not have to break the ice.

-Yes, Boss. Please sail safely to Busan. And please bring some Korean soju when you come back. I miss Korean soju very much.

“Hahaha… All right, I’ll see you when I get back.”

At the container bridge, the chief executive officer of Arirang Shipping, Choi Sun-kil, and the icebreaker captain, Park, were talking tumultuously.

Their voices were bright as the ships passed through the Arctic Ocean without any mishap, and then across the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Okhotsk Sea, completely out of the Kuril Islands.

“Captain Kim. Let’s hurry to Busan. Captain Park mentioned about soju, and it makes me want to have raw fish. Let’s get to Busan and have a nice drink.”

“It’s been a few years since you went to Korea, right?”

“Right. I feel like I’m returning home in glory.”

Choi Sun-kil used to own a shipping business, but it was directly hit by the economic slump.

But he became the president of Arirang Shipping by becoming associated with Youngho at a Danish tavern.

Arirang Shipping, which started with a few ships, had been continuing its surplus streak for years as global companies had been keeping to entrust their cargo to the company.

There had been efforts, but the premium as a Kazakh royal shipping company also played a huge part in the rapid growth of the company.

“Mr. Choi. Shipping companies must be interested because we have proved that icebreakers will not be needed until November by this test voyage.”

“There was also an effect of unusually high temperatures this year.”

“If it’s like this every year, transportation costs will definitely decrease. Would it get any colder when they say that ships could travel on the Arctic Ocean without the help of an icebreaker by 2030 for global warming?”

“We’ll have to run the icebreaker diligently until them. Icebreaker does not cost a penny or two.”

The 20-foot container shipped on a 2,000 TEU-class container ships was usually 70 dollars on the Arctic Route, but the price soared to 150 dollars if the ship was guided by an icebreaker.

Still, it was cheaper than passing through the Suez Canal, but the effects of the weather were huge as shippers would feel burdened to use the Arctic route.

Since this journey would be a barometer of the Arctic Route, Choi Sun-kil came out to the bridge to check the sea conditions every dawn.

The reason why they insisted on Busan was to show that it would only take 14 days for the Arctic Route when it usually took 24 days to sail to the southern route (Busan-Suez-Rotterdam, Netherlands).

Although it had already been proven, it was important that the ship made its first commercial voyage with cargo.

That was why Youngho invited media companies from all over the world to Copenhagen, Denmark, even before embarking on the voyage.

“Do you think there are press companies at the Port of Busan as well?”

“It’s a historic moment, and the press can’t miss it. His Highness has booked an entire luxury hotel in Busan and invited world media companies, so most of the media companies must have arrived by now.”

“It would be great to enter the Port of Busan.”

“As the news focuses on us, please remind our crew to be extra careful about their actions. We are the face of Kazakhstan.”

The Kazakh royal family was even mobilizing the media to publicize the advantages of the Arctic route. Now that the Russian government had approved, it could start commercial operations with customers.

That’s why Youngho worked hard on calling the media to promote it.

“You should dress up well in case your face appears on TV.”

“I know you’re handsome, so you don’t have to worry, but I’m not sure about me.”

“What’s wrong, boss?”

“I’ve been told since I was a child that I look like a thief. How can I be on TV? I don’t want to disgrace the Kazakh royal family.”

“Oh, people who have the sea as their home looks all the same.”

It was a pleasant voyage that they exchanged jokes with each other.

They watched the night sea, thinking that if this feeling had continued every day, there would be nothing more to be desired.

***

Hundreds of reporters from Korea and abroad were vying for news coverage at the container terminal at Sinseondae in Busan.

It was a huge issue because those ships had sailed the Arctic Ocean.

Korean reporters were much more enthusiastic than foreign journalists.

“Thank for your explanation that the Arctic Ocean is economically viable. And tell me how you felt about being the first Korean to sail the Arctic Ocean.”

The reporter from a Korean newspaper, who liked to use big modifiers such as ‘best,’ ‘first,’ and ‘largest’ wanted to write an article about the excellence of the Korean people.

“I think you’re mistaken, so I’ll correct it. I was born in Korea, but now I am a citizen of the Kazakh kingdom. And I’m the queen’s servant, who was knighted by the Kazakh royal family.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll correct it. Please tell me how you feel about your first voyage to the Arctic Ocean in the Kazakh royal family.”

“I want to say it was the best route. The ice blocked the waves and we sailed very comfortably.”

“I heard that you can only sail with the help of an icebreaker in the winter, so could it be called the best route?”

“As I told you a little while ago, that’s the case in terms of economics.”

“Safety of ships and luggage is important, but isn’t the safety of the crew neglected?”

Foreign journalists were intensively asking economic aspects such as how much oil costs were saved and how much shippers would pay for the passage, with Korean reporters emphasizing only safety.

“Today’s ships are designed to withstand decent impacts. Nevertheless, we put icebreakers ahead to avoid unknown risks.”

“I can’t see the icebreaker. Where is it?”

“It’s standing by at the port of Vladivostok.”

“They say the insurance fee is quite burdensome for traveling through the Arctic Route. Is there an alternative?”

“When proven safe passage, insurance fee will go down. Even if the premium doesn’t go down, it’s 10 days shorter than the Southern route, so it’s a good way to offset the insurance burden.”

“There are concerns about whether we will use the Arctic route with high premiums and high risk, even though cargo using maritime transportation is not a matter of urgency.”

“Please let me know who in the world is so worried about that. Have you been asked to ask questions from the Egyptian government?”

Choi’s reply was greeted with pent-up laughter from all over the press conference.

It was not worth answering the question of the reporter’s own thoughts as if they were wrapped up in public opinion, but he still retorted by asking if he was ordered to ask such a question from Egypt, which would suffer losses from the Suez Canal due to the Arctic Route.

“And the Arctic Ocean is the only route that takes 14 days from Denmark to Busan port. Shouldn’t we do anything to reduce our sailing time from 24 days to 14 days? With oil running low, using the Arctic route is also desirable for humanity. As you know, Kazakhstan has four icebreakers, so please use them because they have no problem traveling on the Arctic Ocean.”

Moments later, another Korean reporter raised his hand.

“Is there any inconvenience for inland Kazakhstan to enter the ocean without port facilities?”

“Most of us know Kazakhstan is an inland country, but the Caspian Sea is a sea, and it’s connected to the ocean through a canal. And the Kazakh royal family has the management rights of the port of Piraeus in Greece as well. We also have our own docks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and elsewhere.”

At least, it was common sense to fully research the subject before coming out to cover it.

If those journalists took a little time, they would have already learned about such minor information, but the reporter who came up with no basic knowledge was pathetic. Yet, Choi Sun-kil did his best to answer their questions. However, there were not one or two such reporters, so the explanation was getting longer.

***

“Come on, Captain! Have another drink.”

“Mr. Choi, you can’t even wake up if you drink anymore. Stop it.”

“If you don’t drink on a day like today, when would you drink? His Highness has given us a bonus payment for completing this voyage safely.”

After the press conference, Choi Sun-kil and his crews sat down at a luxury raw fish restaurant in Haeundae and pouring drinks down their throats.

Having safely arrived at Busan port and fully informed the reporters at home and abroad of the advantages of the Arctic route, there was nothing more to do now.

In addition, he was so proud that he was praised by the Duke of Kazakhstan.

At the height of the atmosphere, a strange number showed up on his phone screen.

Upon receiving the call, the other party introduced himself as the shipping policy director of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s shipping and logistics bureau.

He was scheduled to come to Busan tomorrow with the head of the shipping and logistics bureau and was asking if he could meet Choi Sun-kil.

A director of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would be a grade II-A official. As such a high-rank official wanted to see him, Choi Sun-kil had no reason to avoid it. He gladly agreed.

The next day, Choi Sun-kil met two men in their 40s in a suit at the café of a hotel he was staying in.

“This is Kim Byung-doo, director of shipping and logistics of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. You must have been surprised by my sudden call.”

“Oh, that’s fine. Any representative of a shipping company should meet a potential customer. It may be a customer, whether it’s a country or an individual.”

“Thank you for making time for us. The reason why I wanted to see you is none other than this. I wanted to see if you could bring the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and industry officials on board when you return home this time. Is that possible?”

“That’s not a difficult job. But I wonder why you want to get on our ship.”

If officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the shipping industry wanted to board the container ship, their purpose was obvious, but Choi Sun-kil still asked to be polite. They probably were wishing to see the Arctic Route with his own eyes.

“I’m embarrassed to ask this, but we wanted to experience the Arctic route. I’m asking because I believe the Kazakh royal family is not completely irrelevant to Korea.”

“That’s right. That’s why we set our first voyage to Busan. I will guide you through the journey. I’m sure the royal family will agree.”

“Is there any problem getting through Russian waters?”

“You know the relationship between the Russian government and our royal family is amicable, don’t you? Nothing will go wrong, so don’t worry.”

“Good thing. We’ll give you a list of people that will follow the Arctic route.”

“I’ll take you safely to your destination, Copenhagen, Denmark.”

“Isn’t this ship sailing to Kazakhstan?”