The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced at a joint press conference with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc that the two organisations have signed a new strategic partnership agreement and that Maersk is preparing to return to the Suez Canal route. SCA said the return is expected in December, while Maersk later уточified that it will resume operations “as soon as conditions allow,” stressing that crew safety remains its highest priority.
Bringing large container ships back to Suez after a prolonged period of rerouting around southern Africa remains one of SCA’s key goals. The authority says it is engaging major liner operators and highlighting the route’s advantages, backed by a package of incentives described as a “flexible pricing policy.” Among the measures is a 15% toll discount for container vessels of more than 130,000 tons. SCA argues that recent political developments and pledges supporting freedom of navigation have helped improve stability in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb area, creating a pathway toward a gradual return to normal shipping patterns.
SCA described Maersk’s planned resumption as a step in the right direction and voiced expectations that other carriers will follow. Maersk’s public messaging has been more cautious: in a subsequent statement, the company reiterated that any restart will depend on operational conditions, and that transits would be normalised over time, with no specific date confirmed.
SCA also pointed to recent moves by CMA CGM, noting that the French carrier has already carried out several larger-ship passages through the canal. It cited transits by CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin and CMA CGM Jules Verne, and said CMA CGM has decided on a fuller return, with additional transits planned in December.
SCA noted that in 2023 Maersk completed 1,158 canal transits with a combined net tonnage of 127 million tons. Restoring traffic is critical for Egypt, as the canal is a major revenue stream. Beyond transit activity, the authority said the partnership discussions include broader cooperation opportunities, such as ship recycling, container manufacturing and repair, shipyard development, and logistics services. Maersk is also expected to continue investing in Egypt’s port sector through expansion of its terminal operations.
According to SCA, vessel traffic is showing signs of recovery. It reported 1,136 transits in October; while the number of ships was similar to the previous year, total cargo tonnage increased by 7 million tons to 47.1 million tons. In November, SCA reported 1,156 transits carrying 48.5 million tons of cargo. The authority forecasts further growth and says it will continue intensive talks with shipping lines on schedule adjustments and timelines for resuming regular Red Sea and Suez transits.
