Suez Canal announces a new phase in the return of container ships of major lines.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), this week announced the commencement of a new phase in the return of container ships of major shipping lines to the Suez Canal. The week witnessed the transit of the mega container ship CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, one of the world’s largest such vessels, as part of the southbound convoy, while the container ship CMA CGM ADONIS, carrying 154,000 tons of cargo, transited as part of the northbound convoy, as per an SCA release.

OCMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, operating on liquefied natural gas, led the southbound convoy on its voyage from Morocco to Malaysia. It became the largest container ship to traverse the Canal in two years, of 400 metres length, with a beam of 62 metres and a net tonnage of 231,000 tons. It can carry up to 23,000 TEUs.

The Canal recently also saw the transit of the container ship MAERSK SEBAROK as part of the northbound convoy. It travelled through Bab el-Mandab Strait on its voyage from Port of Salalah in Oman, bound for the United States. This marked the first time a container ship of the Maersk Group transited the Canal since the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between the two parties.

The vessel is 318 metres in length, with a beam of 40 metres, draft of 14 metres, and a gross tonnage of 82,000 tons.

Admiral Rabiee emphasised that the return of major shipping lines is the culmination of the Authority’s intensive marketing efforts over a period of time, adding that these significant steps will have a profound impact on bringing about positive changes in the maritime transport market. He urged other shipping lines to also adjust their schedules and resume their voyages in the Red Sea region and Bab el-Mandab Strait through the Suez Canal.

Next year will see a gradual improvement in Canal traffic rates, he said, returning to normal in the second half of the year, as per the release.