The Suez Canal Authority and A.P. Moller-Maersk have announced an extension of their strategic partnership agreement. This is an important step in restoring normal shipping operations in the Red Sea after two years of security issues that impacted global supply chains.
This announcement was made during a ceremony in Ismailia and suggests that Maersk container ships could return to the Suez Canal as early as next month. There are plans for a full resumption of operations through this vital maritime route, according to a post by the Suez Canal Authority on Facebook.
Admiral Osama Rabee, head of the Suez Canal Authority, stated, “The return of Maersk’s container ships represents a positive step towards maintaining global supply chains,” calling the waterway “the shortest, fastest, and safest navigational route connecting East and West.”
A joint statement from Maersk shared with gCaptain did not specify an exact timeline for when transits in the region would resume. The statement noted that Maersk would “take steps to resume navigation along the East-West corridor via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, and over time normalize transits on this route.” It also emphasized that this would happen “as soon as conditions allow, with the safety of our crew as the top priority.”
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships in the Red Sea, sinking four vessels, capturing another, and resulting in the death of at least eight seafarers. As a result, vessel traffic has decreased by about 60%, leading to rerouted services around the Cape of Good Hope.
This strategic partnership builds on many years of cooperation between the two organizations and comes after the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump announced an end to a two-year Israel-Hamas war that had destabilized the broader Middle East, which authorities believe has contributed to increased stability in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb region.
The extension of this partnership comes as there are signs of recovery in Suez Canal traffic. In October, the canal recorded 1,136 ship transits, carrying a total cargo of 47.1 million tons and generating $372.9 million in revenue. This is a significant increase compared to October 2024, which saw the same number of crossings but with 40.4 million tons of cargo and $322.1 million in revenue.
November figures showed a continued upward trend, with 1,156 ships crossing and carrying 48.5 million tons of cargo, resulting in $383.4 million in revenue—up from 1,000 ships, 38.3 million tons, and $300.6 million the previous November.
Admiral Rabee also mentioned that CMA CGM intends to fully resume crossings through the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb in December, following extensive discussions about changing sailing schedules, though CMA CGM has yet to confirm this.
The Suez Canal Authority has been working hard to bring large containerships back through this crucial waterway as security conditions in the Red Sea improve. Earlier this month, Admiral Rabee visited the CMA CGM JULES VERNE, a 396-meter vessel with a gross tonnage of 176,000 tons, during its northward journey from Singapore to Lebanon. This voyage marked the first northbound transit through the Suez Canal following the Bab El-Mandeb after the Houthi maritime crisis began in November 2023.
This recovery follows a recent announcement from the Houthis about suspending maritime operations in the Red Sea, although maritime security experts warn that risks still exist.
In 2023, prior to the disruptions, Maersk had recorded 1,158 transits through the Suez Canal, transporting 127 million tons of cargo and generating $733 million in revenue for the canal.
Both organizations have reiterated that crew safety remains their top priority as operations begin to resume, with Maersk stating it will proceed “as soon as conditions allow.”
The partnership will also involve collaborations beyond shipping transits, including Maersk’s container terminal operations in East Port Said, which Klerk described as a “strategic partner” for the company.