Cairo: The giant container ship CMA CGM Jules Verne successfully transited the Suez Canal, joining the northbound convoy after a secure passage through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea. The vessel, en route from Singapore to Lebanon, measures 396 metres in length, 53.6 metres in width, and boasts a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons. This voyage marks the third overall transit of CMA CGM through the Egyptian canal and its first northbound journey from Bab Al-Mandab under the Suez Canal Authority's (SCA) newly introduced incentive program.According to State Information Service Egypt, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie inspected the navigation aboard the vessel, confirming the canal's readiness to accommodate the world's largest container ships. During the same convoy, Rabie also monitored the CMA CGM Helium on its inaugural passage through the canal, travelling from Singapore to Alexandria. The Helium is 335 meters long, 51 meters wide, and has a gross tonnage of 130,000 tons. To ensure safe transit, Rabie authoriz ed all essential precautions, including deploying a specialized team of senior pilots and navigational support from accompanying tugboats. Real-time monitoring was also conducted from the main traffic office and pilot stations along the waterway.Rabie emphasized the strategic partnership between the SCA and CMA CGM, noting the shipping line's ongoing commitment to using the canal amidst recent security challenges in the Red Sea region. He cited the passage of these two large vessels as a continuation of significant maritime traffic following the successful Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, which concluded the two-year Israeli war in Gaza. The SCA has rolled out initiatives, including incentives for shipping lines and enhanced safety protocols, aimed at restoring confidence and encouraging the maritime industry to resume standard operations through the canal.The Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement has facilitated a gradual resumption of normal traffic levels, with the canal managing approximately 12 percent of global tr ade. A prior SCA statement highlighted the restoration of 28 voyages of medium-sized container ships on the Europe-to-Asia route, with 19 by French shipping giant CMA CGM and nine by Swedish-Italian shipping conglomerate MSC.SCA Chairman Rabie explained that the return to stability in the Red Sea region is likely to prompt the maritime community to reconsider sailing schedules, potentially resuming transit through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal. He confirmed plans for intensified meetings with major shipping lines to discuss facilitating the return of container ships, possibly through trial voyages, partial returns, or phased full resumptions.The reemergence of giant vessels follows a period of economic downturn, with Suez Canal revenues plummeting over 60 percent in 2024, totaling nearly $7 billion. The Suez Canal, among the world's most strategic waterways, links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, offering the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia.