by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

CMA CGM container vessel, the CMA CGM Osiris, became the first large ship to pass through the Suez Canal after over a year of interruption.

The 15,536-TEU ship was part of a southbound convoy on its way from Singapore to Alexandria, Egypt.

According to the statement by the Suez Canal, other smaller CMA CGM ships – namely CMA CGM Aquila and CMA CGM Callisto, also passed the canal on the day prior to Osiris' transit.

The passage of the CMA CGM Osiris marks the start of a renewed phase for the Suez Canal following a period of disruption due to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Since late 2023, attacks on commercial vessels in the region have caused many shipping lines to avoid the canal, opting instead for the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope.

In response to the traffic downturn, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) introduced a three-month incentive scheme involving a 15% toll discount for container ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tonnes.

This came after the Houthis and the US reached a ceasefire deal to stop attacks against commercial ships.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, described the event as "the beginning of a new phase in the restoration of mega container ship traffic through the Suez Canal."

He further explained that recent discussions with the French shipping line CMA CGM had led to an agreement for more of the group's large vessels to resume their passages through the canal.

He added that he hopes “the coming period will see similar steps from other shipping lines.”

However, major carriers such as MSC, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd continue to sail around Africa and are yet to announce any changes to their sailing policy.

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