The vessel, coming from Singapore and bound for Lebanon, is 396 metres long, 53.6 metres wide, and has a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons.
This marks CMA CGM’s third overall transit through the Egyptian canal and its first northbound passage from the Bab Al-Mandab Strait under the Suez Canal Authority’s (SCA) new incentive program.
SCA Chairman Osama Rabie inspected navigation aboard the vessel, affirming the canal’s full readiness to accommodate the world’s largest container ships, according to an SCA statement.
During the same convoy, he also observed the CMA CGM HELIUM on its maiden voyage through the canal, travelling from Singapore to Alexandria. The HELIUM measures 335 meters long, 51 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of 130,000 tons.
To ensure safe passage, Rabie directed that all necessary precautions be taken, including the deployment of a specialized team of senior pilots, navigational support from accompanying tugboats.
The precautions also included real-time monitoring from the main traffic office and pilot stations along the waterway, the statement added.
Rabie praised the enduring strategic partnership between the SCA and CMA CGM, highlighting the shipping line’s commitment to using the canal despite recent security challenges in the Red Sea region.
He noted that the transit of the two large CMA CGM vessels follows the passage of other significant ships after the successful Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, which marked the end of the two-year Israeli war in Gaza.
The SCA has introduced recent initiatives, including incentives for shipping lines and enhanced safety measures, to restore confidence and encourage the maritime industry to resume normal canal operations.
The move, supported by the Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement, led to a gradual return to normal traffic levels through the waterway, which handles around 12 percent of global trade.
A previous SCA statement noted that the canal restored 28 voyages of medium-sized container ships (130,000–160,000 tonnes) on the Europe-to-Asia route, including 19 by French shipping giant CMA CGM and nine by Swedish-Italian shipping conglomerate MSC.
The SCA chairman also explained that a return to stability in the Red Sea region will compel the maritime community to seriously consider adjusting sailing schedules to resume transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal.
He confirmed the SCA’s intention to intensify meetings with major shipping lines soon to discuss facilitating the imminent return of container ships, possibly through trial voyages, a partial return, or a phased full resumption.
The return of giant vessels comes after a period of economic losses, with Suez Canal revenues dropping more than 60 percent in 2024, amounting to nearly $7 billion.
The Suez Canal, one of the world’s most strategic waterways, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, providing the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia.
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