Rabie: "The return of major shipping lines is the culmination of SCA's intensive marketing efforts over the past period."

The container ship MAERSK SEBAROK transits the canal as part of the southbound convoy after passing through Bab el-Mandeb.

Ismailia: December 23, 2025 : Adm. Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, SCA  announced the start of a new phase in the return of container ships belonging to major shipping lines to transit the Suez Canal. Today, Tuesday, the canal witnessed the transit of the giant container ship CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, one of the world's largest container ships, as part of the northbound convoy, and the transit of the container ship CMA CGM ADONIS as part of the southbound convoy, with a cargo capacity of 154,000 tons, following the announcement of the full return of the French group's vessels. The giant CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, powered by liquefied natural gas, led the northbound traffic through the Suez Canal on its voyage from Morocco to Malaysia.

One of the largest container ships

The giant vessel, belonging to the French CMA CGM Group, is one of the largest container ships in the world and the largest container ship to transit the canal in two years. The ship is 400 meters long, 62 meters wide, has a net tonnage of 231,000 tons, and can carry up to 23,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Container ship MAERSK SEBAROK

Also today, the container ship MAERSK SEBAROK transited the canal as part of the southbound convoy after passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It was en route from the port of Salalah in Oman to the United States, becoming the first container ship belonging to the MAERSK Group to transit the canal since the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between the two parties.

The ship is 318 meters long, 40 meters wide, has a draft of 14 meters, and a gross tonnage of 82,000 tons

The return of major shipping lines

 Rabie, emphasized  that the return of major shipping lines is the culmination of the Authority's intensive marketing efforts over the past period. These efforts resulted in the French CMA CGM Group announcing its full resumption of transit through the Canal, and the Maersk Group beginning its gradual return.

It is noteworthy that  the Singapore-flagged vessel Maersk Sebarok currently operating on Maersk’s MECL service transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea. The safety of our crew, vessels and cargo remains of utmost importance to us, and the highest possible safety measures were applied during transit. Customers with cargo on this vessel have been informed directly.

Statement of Maersk

 Maersk noted in its statement Whilst this is a significant step forward, it does not mean that we are at a point where we are considering a wider East-West network change back to the trans-Suez corridor. Assuming that security thresholds continue to be met, we are considering continuing our stepwise approach towards gradually resuming navigation along the East-West corridor via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. The first step is this initial sailing, followed by a limited number of additional trans-Suez sailings. However, there are no planned sailings currently.

Positive changes in the maritime transport market

Meanwhile Adm. Rabie highlight that these serious steps will have a significant impact on bringing about positive changes in the maritime transport market, and will encourage other shipping lines to adjust their schedules and resume their voyages from the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait through the Suez Canal .Adding  that next year will witness a gradual improvement in Canal traffic rates, reaching normal levels during the second half of the year.

Official Spokesperson for the Suez Canal Authority George Safwat stated 

Related : Suez Canal : The passage of the giant container ship CMA CGM JULES VERNE

Source : Press - Release received by Maritime Tickers 

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