After months of disruption, a new phase begins in the Suez Canal efforts to restore mega containership traffic through the canal.
The Suez Canal Authority is highlighting the transit of the CMA CGM Osiris with a gross tonnage of 154,000 tons through the Suez Canal on June 18 as the first large container ship to transit the Canal from Bab al-Mandeb Strait since March 2024, following a temporary halt in the traffic of such vessels due to regional challenges.
The CMA CGM Osiris became the first mega vessel to transit the waterway as part of the southbound convoy coming from Singapore and heading to the Port of Alexandria via the Canal’s new navigation channel.
The vessel of the French shipping line CMA CGM is 366 meters long, 51 meters wide, with a draft of 49 feet, and can accommodate up to 15,536 TEUs.
SCA noted that CMA CGM Osiris is the first large container ship to transit from Bab al-Mandeb and benefit from the newly introduced discount aimed at encouraging the return of large vessels to transit the Canal.
Its passage follows the introduction of a 15% discount for container ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons, whether laden or ballast, for a period of three months in accordance with circular no. (3/2025).
Meanwhile, the Suez Canal witnessed the passage of two other vessels, CMA CGM Aquila and CMA CGM Callisto, from the same shipping line on June 17, each with a tonnage of 128,000 tons, as part of the line’s ongoing service for medium-sized tonnage vessels.
Photo credit: Suez Canal Authority
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, emphasized the Suez Canal’s efforts to engage effectively with clients and to implement measures that encourage the return of major shipping lines.
These include adopting flexible pricing policies to respond to global market changes and enhancing the Canal’s position as a preferred route for mega ships, despite regional and economic challenges.
He added that recent discussions with the management of the French shipping line CMA CGM resulted in an agreement for several of the group’s large vessels to resume transits through the Canal.
He expressed optimism that the coming period will see similar steps from other shipping lines.
