Given the increasing prominence of 'anchor dragging' and other such alleged sabotage incidents in recent years, I can only imagine that a very great deal of geopolitical-related planning is involved.
And indeed, looking at the 'sources say' map in the article, the planned route has a decided southward leaning, in what I assume may partly be an effort to steer a wide berth around most hotspots. (Or perhaps I am reading too much in to it.)
