Container Lines Return to Suez Canal Transit | Mariner News
Container lines have restored 63% of Far East-Europe capacity to the Suez Canal route, signalling a significant return to Red Sea transits after months of diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, according to sector specialist Alphaliner.
The shift represents 5.50 million TEU of the 8.70 million TEU deployed on the trade, operating via the Red Sea between September 15 and October 15, Alphaliner stated in an emailed report. This partial return offers substantial operational advantages, including a reduction of approximately two weeks in sailing time and lower fuel consumption compared to the Cape route.
Most major carriers, including CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, OOCL, Maersk, and MSC, have resumed Red Sea transits. CMA CGM notably maintained transits throughout the crisis. The Premier Alliance partners are also preparing to restart two services.
However, this return is not universal among the top 10 carriers. Evergreen and ZIM remain the only two yet to resume Suez Canal transits. ZIM’s continued absence is particularly notable, occurring amid threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement to target ships linked to Israel or those bound for Israeli ports.
Despite the significant resumption of traffic, security risks in the Red Sea persist. Alphaliner specifically highlighted ongoing concerns. Le Monde reported an incident where a naval frigate successfully intercepted a drone that threatened the 23,112 TEU CMA CGM Champs Elysees during its Red Sea transit, underscoring the dynamic security environment still facing vessels in the region.
