The giant container ship « CMA CGM SEINE » has successfully completed its first passage through the Suez Canal, according to an announcement by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) on Thursday, January 29.
This container ship, which is one of the largest in the world fleet, is coming from Morocco and heading for Malaysia.
Owned by the French shipowner CMA CGM, this technological flagship delivered in 2025 operates on the FAL3 line, a vital axis for trade between Europe and the Far East.
With its 399 meters long, 61.3 meters wide and a load capacity of up to 23,876 containers for a total tonnage of 250,000 tons, the ship represents the new standards of international maritime transport.
In order to ensure a safe crossing, the Suez Canal Authority has deployed a high-precision protocol. SCA President Admiral Osama Rabie ordered the mobilization of senior pilots to guide the behemoth, while providing constant technical assistance via escort tugs.
In keeping with maritime tradition, a delegation from the Authority came on board to greet the crew and present a commemorative plaque to the ship’s captain.
A « positive impact » for maritime transport: Rabie
According to a statement issued by the SCA, Osama Rabie stressed that the return of the most modern and largest ships testifies to « the renewed confidence of shipowners in the preparation and efficiency of the Suez Canal », which he considers « the most sustainable route for East-West trade ».
The President of the Authority said that the return of shipowners will have a « positive impact on the maritime transport market », and urged other shipping companies to resume their usual routes in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait via the canal.
Rabie also indicated that the SCA has adopted a comprehensive strategy for the modernization of maritime and navigation services proposed, while introducing new services in order to « meet customer requirements and ensure the highest standards of maritime safety for giant ships and maritime units with special dimensions. »
The press release also points out that the French group CMA CGM has recorded an increase in the number of crossings of its container ships with a net tonnage of more than 130,000 tons, reaching 15 ships since last December, out of a total of 38 ships that have used the canal since last May, benefiting from the flexible pricing policies adopted by the Authority.
In December 2025, the French shipowner announced the return of its fleet to the Suez Canal, after two years of deviation due to tensions in the Red Sea
source : The General Information OrganizationPortal to Egypt
