Shipping
FIRST MEGA-BOXSHIP TRANSITS THE SUEZ CANAL IN 15 MONTHS
June 19, 2025
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has announced the restart of mega containership traffic at the waterway, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through Egypt's Isthmus of Suez.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said the June 18 transit of the container ship CMA CGM Osiris marks the start of a new phase in restoring mega vessel traffic through the waterway.
CMA CGM Osiris has a gross tonnage of 154,000 tons, transited the Suez Canal on a southbound voyage from Singapore to the Port of Alexandria via the canal's new navigation channel.
"This vessel of the French shipping line CMA CGM is the first large container ship to transit the Canal from Bab al-Mandeb Strait since March 2024, following a temporary halt in the traffic of such vessels due to regional challenges," SCA said.
The Suez Canal Authority said the transit reflects the results of recent marketing efforts, following its announcement of a 15% rebate for container ships with a net tonnage of 130,000 tons or more—laden or in ballast—under Circular No. 3/2025 to regain containership traffic. The rebate applies for 90 days starting May 15.
CMA CGM Osiris is 366 meters long, 51 meters wide, with a draft of 49 feet, and can accommodate up to 15,536 TEUs, making it the first large container ship to transit from Bab al-Mandeb and benefit from the newly introduced discount aimed at encouraging the return of large vessels to transit the Canal.
The Authority said it continues its efforts to ensure effective communication with clients and to take all necessary measures to encourage the return of major shipping lines through the Canal once again through the adoption of flexible pricing policies which reflects a positive approach towards global market changes and enhance the Canal's position as the best maritime route for mega ships despite regional and economic challenges.
Recent discussions with the management of the French shipping line CMA CGM, SCA added, resulted in an agreement for several of the group's large vessels to resume transits through the Canal.
The Suez Canal also saw the recent passage of two other vessels from the same shipping line on June—“CMA CGM AQUILA” and “CMA CGM CALLISTO”—each with a tonnage of 128,000 tons, as part of the line's ongoing service for medium-sized tonnage vessels.
