Day: January 31, 2026

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said on Thursday that the giant container ship CMA CGM SEINE, one of the world’s largest container vessels, transited the canal for the first time as part of the northbound convoy, carrying a gross tonnage of about 250,000 tons.

The vessel, operated by the French shipping line CMA CGM, crossed the canal during its maiden voyage, sailing from Morocco to Malaysia, according to an SCA statement.

SCA Chairman Ossama Rabiee said the return of the world’s largest and most modern container ships to the canal reflects confidence in its readiness and global standing as a key artery for East–West trade.

Delivered in 2025, CMA CGM SEINE operates on the FAL3 service linking Europe with the Far East. The ship is 399 metres long, 61.3 metres wide, has a draught of 40 feet, and can carry up to 23,876 containers.

Rabiee said the authority took all necessary measures to ensure the vessel’s safe passage , including assigning senior SCA pilots, deploying escort tugboats, and maintaining real-time monitoring from the main traffic control centre and pilotage stations along the canal.

In line with SCA protocol for first-time transits, senior pilots boarded the ship to welcome its crew and present a commemorative gift to the vessel’s master.

Rabiee added that the authority has recently upgraded its maritime and navigational services and introduced new offerings to meet customer needs, while maintaining the highest safety standards for ultra-large vessels and special-dimension marine units.

He noted that CMA CGM has increased the number of its container ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons transiting the canal, reaching 15 vessels since December, out of a total of 38 ships that have crossed since May, benefiting from the authority’s flexible pricing policies.

Navigation through the Suez Canal has gradually resumed in recent months as several major shipping lines reassessed their routes following prolonged disruptions to global trade lanes, particularly in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab.

The SCA responded by maintaining uninterrupted canal operations, enhancing navigational safety measures, and expanding pilotage and escort services for ultra-large container ships.

It also introduced flexible pricing and incentive policies to encourage shipping lines to restore regular transits through the canal.

Earlier this month, the SCA reported a marked recovery in canal activity, with revenues rising by 18.5 percent in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2025/2026, reflecting a gradual return of shipping traffic as security conditions in the Red Sea improved.

SCA Chairman Ossama Rabiee said the gains were accompanied by a 5.8 percent increase in the number of transiting vessels and a 16 percent rise in net tonnage year on year, citing greater stability in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and surrounding waters.

Global shipping had been heavily disrupted since October 2023, when many major carriers diverted vessels away from the canal amid attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea linked to the war in Gaza, a shift that resulted in sharp revenue losses for the authority estimated at $7 billion.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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EGYPT