Maersk resumes Suez route after Red Sea stability

• Middle East-India-US service restarts
• Maersk monitoring security situation
• Journey time cut by two weeks

Danish shipping giant Maersk Group is resuming the trans-Suez route for one of its services, connecting the Middle East and the US, following improved stability in the Red Sea.

The move follows successful Suez Canal transits of the vessels Maersk Sebarok and Maersk Denver, the company said in a statement.

The MECL service will be the first to pass through the Red Sea, connecting the Middle East and India with the US East Coast. 

In November, the Suez Canal Authority signed an agreement with AP Moller-Maersk to restart the group’s vessel transits from December this year. However, the service is now being reinstated following improved stability in the region.

Collaboration with the Suez Canal Authority and other strategic partners in the region remains critical, Maersk said.

A gradual trans-Suez return will depend on the safety of operations, and safeguards will ensure predictability and stability for customers, it said.

The Maersk Detroit departed North Charleston on January 10 and is the first eastbound sailing to use the Trans-Suez route, the company said.  

Houthi militants had been targeting commercial ships since late 2023 in response to the war in Gaza, forcing vessels to avoid the Red Sea and sail around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The extended route added 10 to 14 days to journeys, inflating costs for fuel, insurance and crew safety.

Maersk will continue closely to monitor the security situation in the Middle East, the statement said.

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The shipping company is keeping contingency plans in place and will resume the Cape of Good Hope route if the situation deteriorates.

The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and West and a key driver of efficient global supply chains, Maersk said. 

In November, Suez Canal Authority chairman Ossama Rabiee forecast 2025 revenue to exceed $4 billion, slightly higher than 2024, and expressed hope to reach pre-crisis income of $10 billion in 2026.