Admiral Rabie : the return of calm to the Red Sea region will create a new reality for the maritime community, 

The canal's shipping traffic today, Saturday, saw the passage of 38 ships, with a total net tonnage of 1.7 million tons.

 Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority ( SCA ) announced the Suez Canal's readiness to receive giant container ships. This announcement came during his inspection of navigation through the canal from aboard the giant container ship CMA CGM JULES VERNE, which was transiting the canal as part of the southbound convoy. The ship was en route from Singapore to Lebanon, having safely passed through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

This voyage marks the first time the ship, belonging to the French shipping line CMA CGM, has transited the canal from the south via Bab el-Mandeb, and its third transit overall. It is returning to the canal after its last two northbound voyages this year, on June 20th and September 20th, following the implementation of incentive programs.The ship is 396 meters long, 53.6 meters wide, and has a draft of 11.5 meters, with a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons.

During Rabie visit to the ship

Related : SCA reassures international shipping lines: "Safe transit continues to increase."

During his visit to the ship, Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, welcomed the crew and inquired about their impressions of transiting the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as well as the level of navigational services provided by the Canal. He was received by Mr. Tarek Zaghloul, CEO of CMA CGM Group in Egypt and Sudan, and Mr. Amr El-Shafei, the company's Operations Manager

The container ship CMA CGM HELIUM on its maiden voyage 

Rabie, also observed the transit of the container ship CMA CGM HELIUM on its maiden voyage through the Canal as part of the southbound convoy, en route from Singapore to Alexandria. The ship is 335 meters long, 51 meters wide, has a draft of 9.5 meters, and a gross tonnage of 130,000 tons.

All necessary measures and procedures be taken to ensure a safe passage

Rabie, directed that all necessary measures and procedures be taken to ensure a safe passage, including the deployment of a team of senior pilots, the provision of navigational assistance from accompanying tugboats, and real-time monitoring from the main traffic office and pilot stations located along the Canal.

The long-standing strategic relationship between SCA andCMA CGM

The Chairman of SCA praised the long-standing strategic relationship between the Suez Canal Authority and the French shipping line CMA CGM, which was reflected in the group's commitment to continuing its vessels' transit through the canal despite the security challenges in the Red Sea region. He noted the group's initiative to transit two large container ships following the successful Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, followed by the transit of two more container ships belonging to the group today, including one of the group's largest vessels, the CMA CGM Jules Verne, and the group's newest vessel, the CMA CGM Helium. This, he said, underscores the importance of the Suez Canal as the shortest, fastest, and safest shipping route.

Create a new reality 

Admiral Rabie explained that the return of calm to the Red Sea region will create a new reality for the maritime community, requiring shipping lines to seriously consider adjusting their schedules to resume transiting through Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, affirmed that the Authority will intensify its meetings with major shipping lines in the coming period to discuss ways to facilitate the imminent return of their container ships to transit the Canal. This could involve conducting trial voyages, a partial return of some ships, or a full return in several phases.

CMA CGM's commitment to using the Suez Canal for its voyages

On the other hand Captain Slavko Malasic, the ship's captain, expressed his satisfaction with the transit of the Suez Canal, emphasizing CMA CGM's commitment to using the Suez Canal for its voyages to the Far East. He noted that the group's ships have not encountered any challenges while transiting the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, citing the smooth passage of two container ships belonging to the group through the Canal today.

The Canal's development projects,

Captain Jules Verne of CMA CGM also praised the Canal's development projects, particularly the Southern Sector Development Project, which has successfully increased navigational safety and reduced waiting and transit times, making transiting the Canal easier and safer. He expressed his hope for a swift return to normal operations.

It is worth noting that the canal's shipping traffic today, Saturday, saw the passage of 38 ships, with a total net tonnage of 1.7 million tons.

Press - release received by Maritime Tickers

Captain Jules Verne , CMA CGM  , Captain Slavko Malasic , The Suez Canal ,  giant container ship , Admiral Osama Rabie ,  CMA CGM JULES VERNE , CMA CGM HELIUM ,Tarek Zaghloul , Bab el-Mandeb Strait.