Two CMA CGM container vessels have completed a Suez Canal transit, signalling a cautious return of shipping traffic to the route amid easing security tensions in the Red Sea.
Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority confirmed that the vessels passed through the waterway on December 23. The CMA CGM Jacques Saade transited northbound on a voyage from Morocco to Malaysia, while the CMA CGM Adonis sailed southbound after clearing the canal.
Shipping traffic through the Suez Canal has been severely disrupted since late 2023, when attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants on commercial vessels prompted many operators to reroute ships around the Cape of Good Hope. The attacks were linked to the conflict in Gaza and raised concerns over crew safety and insurance risks.
Authorities said that since a fragile ceasefire in Gaza took effect in October, no further attacks on merchant vessels have been reported. This has led some shipping companies to reassess the use of the Suez Canal, which remains a key source of revenue for Egypt.
CMA CGM has previously stated that it sends vessels through the canal on a case-by-case basis depending on security conditions. The company’s published schedule also indicates plans to resume Suez transits for its India–U.S. INDAMEX service from January.
Other operators remain cautious. Earlier this month, Maersk confirmed that one of its vessels had navigated the Red Sea for the first time in nearly two years but said a full return to the route would be gradual.
