-hipping rout-? (6)

I believe the answer is:

seaway

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'hipping' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for seaway that I've seen before include "Route for a vessel" , "Channel for shipping" , "Channel open to ships" , "Ship route" , "Inland route for use by seagoing ships" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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