The flagship dual-fuel methanol container ship of the Danish shipping giant Maersk has successfully completed its eastbound transit through the Suez Canal. This transit is considered a critical development in terms of the reactivation of one of the routes extending to the Suez-Red Sea corridor.

The company recently announced that, as part of the Gemini Cooperation it has been conducting with Hapag-Lloyd, it will resume regular service between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India for the first time since the onset of Houthi attacks at the beginning of 2024.

Maersk conducted trial voyages to the region in December and January. However, the company emphasized that Red Sea transits will continue to be secured with the support of naval forces.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, personally accompanied the transit of the 2024-built Astrid Maersk vessel, which has a capacity of 16,592 TEU. The transit, completed on Tuesday, February 10, was part of a convoy of 36 vessels with a total gross tonnage of approximately 2 million tons.

Authorities stated that this transit is an important step in efforts to revitalize canal traffic. Nevertheless, it was noted that the total volume in the Suez Canal remains at about half of the pre-crisis peak levels.

After loading operations at the East Port Said Container Terminal, the ship was reported to have refueled with methanol and subsequently joined the convoy heading south towards Oman. Photos also highlighted that the ship was carrying a limited number of containers relative to its capacity.

Traffic is being increased through discounts and incentives.

The Suez Canal Authority announced that, thanks to the incentives and flexible marketing policies implemented in 2025, it managed to attract 784 vessels with a total net tonnage of 36.6 million tons to the canal. It was stated that these practices generated over 170 million dollars in revenue.

Astrid Maersk benefited from a 15% discount on canal transit fees as part of a program aimed at container ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons. Under this program, which includes all loaded or ballasted vessels, a total of 64 ships with a net tonnage of 9.9 million tons have transited the canal since May.

According to experts, Maersk's transit indicates a gradual improvement in security in the Red Sea, and if global container shipping routes return to the Suez, significant changes in freight times and costs in world trade could occur.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye

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