According to the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), the waterway is fully equipped to accommodate the largest container vessels in operation today. This announcement comes on the heels of two CMA CGM ships successfully navigating through the canal on a single day, including one making its inaugural journey.
On that day, a total of 38 vessels traversed the canal, collectively weighing in at an impressive 1.7 million tons.
During an inspection aboard the CMA CGM JULES VERNE-one of CMA CGM’s flagship vessels-Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of SCA, expressed confidence in their ability to facilitate smooth navigation for these mega ships. The JULES VERNE measures 396 meters in length and has a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons.
This particular transit marked its first passage from south to north through Bab el-Mandab and was part of its third overall journey through this vital maritime route this year. The vessel had previously made two southbound trips earlier in June and September as part of incentive programs aimed at boosting traffic through the canal.
During his visit onboard, Admiral Rabiee engaged with crew members about their experiences navigating both the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab Strait while also assessing service quality provided by SCA personnel. He was joined by Tariq Zaghloul, CEO for CMA CGM Egypt & Sudan Cluster, along with Amr El-Shafei from operations management.
The Admiral also observed another significant vessel-the CMA CGM HELIUM-which was making its maiden voyage as it headed northward towards Alexandria after departing Singapore. This ship is slightly smaller at 335 meters long with a gross tonnage of 130,000 tons.
To ensure safe passage for these large ships, Admiral Rabiee emphasized strict adherence to safety protocols including deploying senior pilots from SCA and providing tugboat support throughout transit operations monitored closely by traffic control centers along the canal.
Looking ahead, he noted that improved stability within the Red Sea region could prompt shipping companies to reevaluate their routes and increase usage of both Bab el-Mandab Strait and Suez Canal services once again. Plans are underway for intensified discussions with major shipping lines aimed at facilitating either trial runs or gradual resumption schedules for container ship traffic through this critical waterway.
