The Danish shipping company Maersk has successfully made its first trip through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in almost two years. This marks a careful step towards possibly reopening one of the world's most vital shipping routes.
On December 18-19, the Singapore-flagged ship Maersk Sebarok, with a capacity of 6,500 TEUs, passed through the area while implementing what the company called "the highest possible safety measures" during the journey. This milestone comes after Maersk and other major shipping lines decided to reroute their vessels around Africa's Cape of Good Hope starting December 2023, due to a series of attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting commercial ships.
Even with this successful test run, Maersk made it clear that this does not mean they will return to regular operations in the Red Sea anytime soon.
"While this is an important step forward, it doesn't indicate that we are considering a broader change in our East-West shipping network back to the trans-Suez corridor," the company explained.
Maersk noted that they will take a "stepwise approach" to gradually resume navigation via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, but there are no additional sailings planned for now.
This test transit follows a partnership agreement extension announced on November 25 between Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority, where they discussed regional geopolitical issues, including progress towards peace in Gaza and efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Suez Canal is the quickest route connecting Europe and Asia and was responsible for about 12 percent of global maritime trade before the attacks began. The ongoing disruptions have increased transit times by weeks and have raised freight costs as ships have had to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope.
The French shipping company CMA CGM has managed to undertake limited trips through the Suez Canal.
The attacks on commercial vessels began in November 2023, with Houthi rebels stating that their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Maersk initially decided to halt transit through the Red Sea following a missile strike on the M/V Maersk Hangzhou on December 30, 2023, which was followed by an attempted boarding.
The Suez Canal Authority is working to bring container ships back after security measures improved in the Red Sea, following the Houthis' announcement of a suspension of maritime operations. However, experts warn that the risk still exists, even if it is reduced.
Since October 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant ships in the Red Sea, resulting in the sinking of four vessels, the seizure of one, and the deaths of eight seafarers. Vessel traffic has decreased by 60% as routes shifted towards the Cape of Good Hope.
Nonetheless, high marine insurance costs continue to be a significant hurdle preventing shipping companies from resuming operations through the Suez Canal.