Swiss giant MSC has become the latest boxship line to rule out sailing through the Arctic on environmental grounds.

The decision is in contrast to its 2M Alliance partner Maersk, which has been much more active in investigating the potential use of polar passages.

The Danish line has been looking to team up with Russian nuclear agency Atomflot to send cargoes along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), but has no current plans to send its own ships there.