The Suez Canal has witnessed the transit of two major CMA CGM container ships for the first time in two years, marking the full-capacity return of the French shipping group’s vessels.

On Tuesday, the CMA CGM Jacques Saade, one of the world’s largest container ships, led the southbound convoy from Morocco to Malaysia.

The vessel, powered by liquefied natural gas, measures 400 metres in length, 62 metres in beam, and has a net tonnage of 231,000 tons, with the capacity to carry up to 23,000 TEUs. Simultaneously, the CMA CGM Adonis, carrying 154,000 tonnes of cargo, transited northbound.

The Suez Canal also saw the passage of the Maersk Sebarok, a 318-metre-long container ship with a beam of 40 metres, a draft of 14 metres, and a gross tonnage of 82,000 tons, travelling north after transiting through the Bab el-Mandab strait.

This was reported as the first Maersk vessel to navigate the canal since the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the Suez Canal Authority.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said that the return of these major shipping lines reflects the success of the Authority’s recent marketing efforts.

He noted that these steps are expected to positively impact the maritime transport market and urged other shipping lines to resume voyages through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab strait via the canal.

The Authority anticipates gradual improvement in canal traffic rates next year, with normal levels likely in the second half of the year.

Shipping through the Suez Canal had been disrupted since November 2023 following attacks on commercial vessels by Yemen’s Houthi militants, who claimed the strikes were in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.

Since a fragile ceasefire in Gaza took effect on 10 October, there have been no further Houthi attacks reported on ships, leading shipping companies to reconsider using the canal.

CMA CGM’s Jacques Saade operates on an Asia–North Europe route, while the Adonis is deployed on an Asia–Mediterranean rotation.

The company plans to use the Suez Canal for its India–United States INDAMEX service from January. Maersk, meanwhile, has stated that it will take a gradual, stepwise approach to fully resuming navigation through the route.

Reference: suezcanal