by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

After the Houthi's announcement on Sunday about ceasing attacks against non-Israeli ships in the Red Sea area, the media reported some reactions from container carriers on their future plans.

In an email to the Danish media Shipping Watch, liner Maersk described the situation as positive, saying that it is too early to return to the Red Sea.

"It is still too early to speculate about timing, but these developments are a needed step in the right direction,” writes Maersk.

”We will continue monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and will return to the Red Sea and sailing through Bab el Mandeb when it is safe to do so."

German carrier Hapag-Lloyd expressed a similar position.

According to Shipping Watch, Hapag-Lloyd said, "We will closely analyze the latest developments and their impact on the security situation in the Red Sea. Otherwise, the following applies unchanged: we will return to the Red Sea when it is sufficiently safe to do so.” 

Meanwhile, shipping analyst firm Linerlytica mentioned in a LinkedIn post that French carrier CMA CGM is "testing Red Sea return."

Linerlytica reports that containership CMA CGM COLUMBA "is scheduled to make an eastbound Suez transit on 23 January 2025 after having passed through Suez once in its westbound leg last month, marking a potential return to the Red Sea route."

Accompanied by the French Navy, the French liner was one of the few European carriers that ventured through the Red Sea several times throughout 2024.

In response to questions by Shipping Watch, CMA CGM confirmed that it is "closely monitoring the ongoing developments in the region and hopes for a return to stability and safety for all.

"Regarding the Red Sea, the group’s top priority remains the safety of its seafarers, its vessels, and its customers’ cargo,” CMA CGM wrote in an email.