MSC Follows Other Container Carriers in Return to Suez Canal and Red Sea
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed in an operational announcement to customers that it has started a resumption of service in the Red Sea and is transiting the Suez Canal for its East-West services. It becomes the fourth major carrier, following CMA CGM, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd, that has also reported returning some of its routes to the Red Sea region.
The carrier advises that it conducted “a comprehensive review of the latest security and operational conditions” in the Red Sea region. It said it would continue to “closely monitor developments” in coordination with the relevant authority and security partners. MSC did not mention it, but there had also been recent reports that the carrier sent seven eastbound ships through the Suez Canal and Red Sea as an apparent test.
“MSC has decided to partially restore Suez Canal transits on a limited number of its East-West services,” it writes in the advisory. It said the transition would be implemented on a service-by-service basis and that contingency arrangements remain in place, allowing individual voyages to be adjusted.
In the past, both the Houthis and the Iranians have singled out MSC vessels. They asserted that the company was associated with Israel.
The announcement lists five sailings from Asia or the Middle East that are either underway or departing in the next few days as the first scheduled for the Red Sea corridor. It cites the vessels MSC Michel Cappellini (24,346 TEU), MSC Josefina (16,196 TEU), MSC Beryl (12,967 TEU), MSC Anna (19,200 TEU), and MSC Tina (19,224 TEU) as the first to return to the routes. The ships are operating on the company’s Jade, Albatros, Himalaya, and Tiger services, mostly to the Mediterranean and one to Northern Europe.
The Suez Canal Authority highlighted on Saturday that two large Maersk containerships had been in the convoy coming from the north as the carrier returns routes to the region. CMA CGM, it said, had sent 199 vessels, with a total net tonnage of 25.2 million tons, through the Suez Canal in 2026.
The Houthis since July have been targeting vessels associated with Saudi Arabia, but so far have not threatened to resume their "blockade" of American or Israeli shipping as they did in the past. They had repeatedly fired on MSC vessels not only in the Red Sea, but also near Djibouti or in the Gulf of Aden.
The EU’s regional security operation, Aspides, remains in place, having been extended until early 2027. Yesterday, EUNAVFOR Aspides posted online, reporting that since its launch in February 2024, it has supported over 2390 merchant vessels, ensuring their safe transit, and provided close protection to more than 720 ships.
Two of Maersk’s Largest Containerships Transit Suez Canal
Two of Maersk’s largest containerships made the transit together on Saturday, August 22, through the Suez Canal. It is part of the carrier’s continuing efforts to restore vessels to the Suez Canal – Red Sea corridor and increase the efficiency of operations.
The Suez Canal Authority highlighted the transits as it continues efforts to rebuild operations. It honored the Bangkon Maersk, one of the carrier’s newest large ships, with a special plaque ceremony marking the first transit through the Suez Canal.
At the head of Saturday's convoy coming from the north was the 2015-built Mathilde Maersk (214,121 dwt). The ship is part of the final series of the Triple E class, Maersk’s largest capacity vessels. She has a rated capacity of 19,076 TEU and was bound for Colombo on her way to the Far East.
Mathilde Maersk was at the head of Saturday's convoy from the north (SCA)
Following in the convoy, and making her first transit, was the 2015-built Bangkok Maersk (181,648 dwt). She is part of the dual-fuel class, capable of operating on methanol, with a capacity of 17,480 TEU. She was coming from Italy and bound for Singapore.
Two weeks ago, Maersk reported, in conjunction with Hapag-Lloyd, that the decision had been made to shift more routes, including some of the Gemini Cooperation, back to the Suez and Red Sea corridor. CEO Vincent Clerc has said that the conditions supported the transfer of more vessels back to their routes but that the company would continue to monitor conditions. Analysts have said Maersk could have all of its routes restored to the Suez – Red Sea corridor by the end of the year.
The canal authority highlights the advantages for vessels returned to their normal routes. For the Maersk ships, they said it would reduce transit times by up to 14 days versus navigating around South America. On Saturday, the Suez Canal Authority said that a total of 57 vessels made the transit, representing a total of 2.8 million net tons.
Reports last week said that MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company had quietly also sent its first vessels back through the Suez Canal on their way to Asia. Seven vessels were reported to have made the transit, but they were dark, not transmitting positions.
The Suez Canal Authority has highlighted the growth of traffic from CMA CGM. Since the start of this year, the French group is reported to have had 199 vessels transit the canal, with a total net tonnage of 25.2 million tons. That compares with 212 vessels from the CMA CGM that transited the canal for the whole of 2025, with a total net tonnage of 18.8 million tons.
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