Photo: Dreamstime.com
Major shipping lines are preparing to resume their transits through the Suez Canal for services between Asia and Europe. This decision marks a significant shift after operators diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in late 2023 due to security concerns following attacks on ships by Houthi forces amid rising tensions in the region.
This week, Taiwan’s Evergreen will join its Ocean Alliance partners in conducting Suez transits. Evergreen plans to send the Ever Eon and Ever Edit, which carry 16,556 TEUs, on eastbound Suez transits on November 7 and November 11, respectively. The carrier will also deploy the Ever Gifted, with a capacity of 20,124 TEUs, on November 16 as part of the alliance’s MD2 service.
Similarly, Yang Ming and South Korea’s HMM will restart Suez crossings in December with the Premier Alliance’s Asia Mediterranean 1 (MD1) service, which will introduce a new stop at Sokhna, Egypt, to accommodate cargo traveling to the Red Sea. Yang Ming’s YM Trust, with a capacity of 11,714 TEUs, is scheduled to initiate the revised MD1 route at Ningbo on November 13.
The updated MD1 service entails a faster turnaround of 84 days with 12 ships ranging from 11,700 to 14,000 TEUs, reduced from 16 vessels on the prior route around the Cape. Linerlytica reports that plans for a complete return to Suez by the first quarter of 2027 include all three main carrier alliances, with Zim Lines as the only major operator remaining committed to the Cape route.
An HMM spokesperson stated that the decision to return to Suez was made after a thorough risk assessment in conjunction with the Premier Alliance. Linerlytica remarked on the shifting dynamics within the shipping industry, noting that competitive pressures and easing security conditions contributed to the decision to resume Suez operations.
In addition to these developments, Evergreen plans to relaunch its China-Red Sea service on November 12, aligning with its Suez transits. The service will cover several ports, including Jeddah and Aqaba, and utilize four vessels, each with a capacity of 7,000 to 9,000 TEUs.
Moreover, MSC has extended its Far East-Indian subcontinent Shikra service to include ports in the UAE and Oman. The first call at Khor Fakkan occurred on October 18, utilizing the vessel MSC Micol, which has a capacity of 24,346 TEUs.
