Cairo: The giant container ship CMA CGM JULES VERNE successfully transited the Suez Canal with the northbound convoy after a safe passage through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea. The vessel, which originated from Singapore and is bound for Lebanon, measures 396 meters in length, 53.6 meters in width, and boasts a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons.
According to State Information Service Egypt, this transit marks CMA CGM's third overall passage through the Egyptian canal and its first northbound journey from the Bab Al-Mandab Strait under the Suez Canal Authority's (SCA) new incentive program. SCA Chairman Osama Rabie inspected the navigation aboard the vessel, affirming the canal's readiness to accommodate the world's largest container ships. During the same convoy, he also observed the maiden voyage of the CMA CGM HELIUM through the canal, traveling from Singapore to Alexandria. The HELIUM measures 335 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and has a gross tonnage of 130,000 tons.
To ensure safe passage, SCA Chairman Rabie directed necessary precautions, including deploying a specialized team of senior pilots and navigational support from accompanying tugboats. Real-time monitoring from the main traffic office and pilot stations along the waterway was also implemented. Rabie praised the strategic partnership between the SCA and CMA CGM, highlighting the shipping line's commitment to the canal amid recent security challenges in the Red Sea region.
The transit of the two CMA CGM vessels follows other significant ship passages after the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, which marked the end of the two-year Israeli war in Gaza. The SCA has introduced initiatives, including incentives for shipping lines and enhanced safety measures, to restore confidence and encourage the maritime industry to resume normal canal operations. Supported by the Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement, there has been a gradual return to normal traffic levels through the waterway, which handles around 12 percent of global trade.
A previous SCA statement noted the canal's restoration of 28 voyages of medium-sized container ships on the Europe-to-Asia route, including 19 by French shipping giant CMA CGM and nine by Swedish-Italian conglomerate MSC. SCA Chairman Rabie explained that a return to stability in the Red Sea region might compel the maritime community to adjust sailing schedules to resume transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal. He confirmed the SCA's intention to intensify discussions with major shipping lines to facilitate the return of container ships, possibly through trial voyages, partial return, or phased full resumption.
The return of giant vessels follows a period of economic losses, with Suez Canal revenues dropping more than 60 percent in 2024, totaling nearly $7 billion. The Suez Canal, one of the world's most strategic waterways, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, offering the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia.