The Suez Canal witnessed the transit of container ship ASTRID MAERSK on its maiden voyage through the waterway. The vessel is the largest Maersk container ship to transit the Canal in two years.
Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, announced the transit. The ship handled containers at the East Port Said container terminal. It bunkered environmentally friendly methanol before proceeding through the Canal as part of the northbound convoy bound for Oman.
Third Maersk Vessel Since Partnership Agreement
The mega vessel measures 350 meters in length with a beam of 54 meters and draft of 14.8 meters. It has a gross tonnage of 185,000 tons.
The ship is the third Maersk vessel to transit the Suez Canal since the Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed between SCA and the Danish group. MAERSK SEBAROK transited last December. MAERSK DENVER followed in January.
Gemini Cooperation Reroutes ME-11 Service
This voyage marks the first transit of the ME-11 service through the Canal. The service operates on the India/Middle East and Mediterranean trade route. ME-11 is part of Gemini Cooperation, which includes Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd.
The alliance announced it would reroute this service to the Suez Canal in both directions instead of the Cape of Good Hope. The change started in mid-February.
Flexible Policies Attract Vessels
Rabiee stressed the rerouting represents a return to the shortest and most sustainable route for global trade between East and West. The step reflects the commitment of major shipping lines to transiting through the Suez Canal.
The SCA has begun to reap the first fruits of its efforts to restore major shipping lines. The authority continues efforts to gradually increase navigation rates through sustained direct communication with clients and flexible marketing policies.
The incentives and flexible marketing policies implemented during 2025 successfully attracted 784 vessels. Total net tonnage reached 36.6 million tons, generating revenues of $170.4 million.
ASTRID MAERSK benefited from Navigational Circular No. 3/2025 for container ships. The circular grants a 15% toll reduction on Canal transit tolls for container ships with net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons, whether laden or in ballast. Since May, this circular has successfully attracted 64 vessels with total net tonnage of 9.9 million tons.
SCA delegated Captain Saeed Imam and Captain Ahmed Nossier, both First Chief Pilots, to board the ship. They welcomed the crew and presented a commemorative gift to the ship’s master in accordance with SCA protocol for first-time transits.
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