THE Hong Kong-flagged 1,620-TEU Newnew Polar Bear is suspected of involvement in an incident in the Baltic Sea, is currently en route to Russian Arctic waters, reports Barents Observer, Kirkenes, Norway.

While awaiting an icebreaker escort, the ship's operator underwent a name change and secured a special permit for navigating the Northern Sea Route.

The ship is allegedly responsible for damaging a gas pipeline and two communication cables in the Baltic Sea departed from the northern Russian port of Arkhangelsk, heading towards the Arctic.

The Newnew Polar Bear is scheduled to sail through the Kara Sea and traverse the Vilkitsky Strait.

Assisted by a Russian icebreaker, it will then continue its voyage eastward along the North Siberian coast, eventually reaching the Bering Strait and entering the waters of the Pacific.

Before embarking from Arkhangelsk, the ship's owners successfully obtained an updated sailing permit for the Northern Sea Route.

The previous permit allowed navigation on the remote and icy Arctic route only until October 31, whereas the new authorisation extends the sailing period until November 15.

Notably, the revised permit, issued by the Northern Sea Route Administration, an entity subordinate to Russia's state nuclear power company Rosatom, reflects a change in the ship operator's name.

Whereas the previous permission identified the operator as Hainan Xin Xin Yang Shipping Co Ltd, the updated document is addressed to Torgmoll, a Russian-registered company with offices in Moscow and Shanghai.

Torgmoll's website indicates a specialisation in logistics between China and Europe and a keen interest in contributing to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

The company also has representation in the Russian-Chinese Business Forum and is under the leadership of Yelena Maksimova.