Maersk restores Suez transit

THERE'S another container service is returning to the Suez Canal.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced that their AE15 service, operated under the Gemini Cooperation, will transition from the Cape of Good Hope back to the Suez Canal, with Majestic Maersk expected to be the first vessel to make the transit later this month.

The move follows what the carriers describe as a thorough assessment of the security situation in the Red Sea and represents another step in the gradual restoration of services through the region.

Rather than restoring its entire network, Maersk is taking a gradual approach, bringing services back one at a time. The line has confirmed that the safety of its crews, vessels and cargo remains its highest priority, and contingency plans remain in place should conditions change.

This is not the first attempt to restore services through the Suez Canal. Earlier this year, some Gemini services resumed transits before being suspended again as regional tensions escalated.

The latest announcement also follows continued transits by CMA CGM through the Suez Canal, including one of the world's largest container vessels, CMA CGM Saint Germain, showing that some carriers are continuing to increase their use of the route.

While additional services are returning, most carriers are maintaining a cautious and measured approach, with many continuing to operate vessels around the Cape. As a result, the recovery of container traffic through the Suez Canal remains gradual rather than widespread.

For cargo owners, the announcement is another indication that carriers continue to assess the region on a service-by-service basis, balancing transit time efficiencies against operational and security considerations.