The Suez Canal witnessed the transit of mega container ship CMA CGM SEINE during its maiden voyage. The vessel, one of the largest container ships in the world, crossed as part of the northbound convoy.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, announced the successful transit. The ship sailed from Morocco bound for Malaysia.
Vessel Specifications
The French shipping line CMA CGM owns the vessel. It operates under the FAL3 maritime service, which serves the trade route between Europe and the Far East.
The ship, delivered in 2025, measures 399 meters in length overall with a beam of 61.3 meters. It has a draft of 40 feet, gross tonnage of 250,000 tons, and capacity up to 23,876 TEU.
Enhanced Safety Measures
The SCA Chairman issued directives to implement all necessary measures for safe transit. The authority appointed a group of senior pilots and provided navigational aids through escort tugs. Real-time monitoring occurred via SCA’s main traffic control center and pilotage stations positioned along the waterway.
In accordance with SCA protocol for maiden voyages, Admiral Rabiee delegated Senior First Class Pilots Abdul Rahman Fouad Shahin and Saeed Emam to board the vessel. They welcomed the crew and presented a commemorative plaque to the ship’s master.
Sign of Growing Confidence
Admiral Rabiee emphasized the return of the world’s largest and most modern container ships to the Suez Canal reflects deep-seated confidence in the Canal’s readiness. He highlighted it as the most efficient and sustainable route for global trade between East and West.
The chairman noted these significant developments are expected to drive positive shifts in the maritime transport market. The changes encourage other shipping lines to adjust their sailing schedules and resume voyages through the Red Sea and Bab al Mandab, utilizing the Suez Canal.
CMA CGM Increases Transit Rates
The Suez Canal Authority has focused on upgrading maritime and navigational services. It introduced new offerings to meet client demands and ensure the highest standards of maritime safety for ultra-large vessels.
CMA CGM Group has seen an increase in transit rates for its vessels exceeding 130,000 net tons. Since December, 15 such vessels have transited. This contributes to a total of 38 group vessels that have utilized the Canal since May, benefiting from SCA’s flexible pricing policies.
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