Suez canal: The giant cruise ship MSC Euribia, one of the world's largest passenger vessels, successfully transited the Suez Canal for the first time after being stranded for weeks near the Strait of Hormuz, as announced by Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).
According to State Information Service Egypt, the MSC Euribia was part of the southbound convoy, having passed through the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait on a voyage from the United Arab Emirates to Malta. The vessel had been delayed near the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks but eventually altered its route to pass through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, opting for this faster course instead of navigating around the Cape of Good Hope.
The MSC Euribia, an LNG-powered ship operated by MSC Cruises, measures 331 meters in length and 51.9 meters in width, with a draught of 27.5 feet. It sails under the Maltese flag and was carrying a crew of 192 during the transit. In accordance with SCA protocol for first-time transits, senior pilots Captain Khaled Nada and Captain Raouf Meselhy were delegated to board the vessel, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the ship's captain.
Osama Rabie emphasized that the Suez Canal continues to provide advanced maritime and logistical services, enabling the reception of the latest and largest vessels in the global fleet. He highlighted ongoing development projects, such as the southern sector expansion, which has improved navigational safety by widening the canal by 40 meters eastward between km 132 and km 162, and extending dual-lane sections by 10 kilometers in the Small Bitter Lakes area.
Rabie noted that the transit of cruise ships indicates the canal's ongoing appeal as a key global shipping route that offers significant savings in transit time and operational costs. The transit also reinforces the canal's position as the fastest, shortest, and safest maritime link between East and West.
On Sunday, approximately 45 vessels, with an estimated net tonnage of 1.7 million, passed through the Suez Canal in both directions.