Emma Maersk berthed in the Port Said East SCCT in Egypt after having had mechanical problems at the Northern entrance of the Suez Canal (Photo: Mearsk line official Facebook page)
The Singapore-flagged Maersk Sebarok, operating on the company’s Middle East–China Loop (MECL) service, made the passage on 18–19 December, the Danish shipping giant said.
Maersk said the transit was part of a limited, step-by-step assessment of security conditions in the region. A small number of additional sailings could follow if safety thresholds continue to be met.
The company stressed, however, that the move does not signal a broader resumption of East–West traffic through the Suez Canal. Most major shipping lines have avoided the route since late 2023 due to security risks linked to Israel's genocidal war on Gaza and attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
“Whilst this is a significant step forward, it does not mean that we are at a point where we are considering a wider East-West network change back to the trans-Suez corridor,” Maersk said.
The company said enhanced security measures were applied throughout the voyage, adding that crew and cargo safety remains its top priority.
The transit follows a partnership agreement between Maersk and Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to explore a phased return to the canal. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said in November that talks were also underway with other major operators on resuming transits.
Some shipping companies have already begun limited returns. French shipping group CMA CGM completed its third Suez Canal transit in mid-November, including its first northbound passage since the disruptions began.
Before the crisis, Maersk was one of the canal’s largest users. In 2023, its vessels made 1,158 transits, carrying about 127 million tonnes of cargo and generating roughly $732.5 million in canal revenues.
Overall, SCA revenues fell by more than 60 percent in 2024 as traffic was diverted around the Cape of Good Hope. Canal earnings for 2025 are estimated at $4.1 billion, with officials projecting a recovery in 2026 if shipping gradually returns.
The Suez Canal carries about 12 percent of global trade and is a key maritime link between Asia and Europe.
The prolonged disruption has increased shipping times, fuel consumption, and insurance costs, highlighting the canal’s central role in global supply chains.
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