Maersk resumes Suez Canal sailings on India-Europe service

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are resuming Suez Canal sailings on their ME1 container service connecting India and Europe, according to Logistics Middle East. The restart on the India-Europe service follows the launch of a new Asia-Mediterranean service through the canal by the same Gemini Cooperation partners. Industry analysts at Linerlytica have reported that all three main carrier alliances, along with MSC, are set to make a full return to the Suez by the first quarter of 2027.

Ocean Alliance carriers restart Suez transits in November#

Evergreen is sending vessels through the Suez Canal on Ocean Alliance services this month, with the 16,556 TEU Ever Eon and Ever Edit scheduled for eastbound transits on the NEU7/CES service on 7 and 11 November respectively, according to The Loadstar. The 20,124 TEU Ever Gifted is scheduled to transit on the alliance's MD2 service on 16 November. The moves follow earlier resumptions by Ocean Alliance partners on Asia-Europe routes after diversions around the Cape of Good Hope that began in late 2023.

Premier Alliance restarts Asia-Mediterranean service with Sokhna call#

The Premier Alliance's Asia Mediterranean 1 service will resume Suez Canal transits in November with a revised rotation adding a call at Sokhna for Asia-Red Sea cargo. Yang Ming's 11,714 TEU YM Trust is scheduled to depart Ningbo on 13 November on the revised MD1 rotation, which will call at Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Sokhna, Damietta, Ambarli, Izmit, Mersin, Damietta, Singapore, Kaohsiung and Ningbo. The revised service will turn in 84 days and deploy 12 vessels of 11,700 to 14,000 TEU, compared with 16 vessels on the Cape route.

HMM confirms return following alliance risk assessment#

HMM will join Premier Alliance partners in restarting Suez crossings next month following a comprehensive review of market conditions and safety aspects conducted at alliance level. A spokesperson for the South Korean carrier confirmed the decision was agreed from a Premier Alliance perspective. Israeli carrier Zim remains the only major shipping line maintaining Cape of Good Hope routing.

Evergreen relaunches China-Red Sea service on 12 November#

Evergreen is relaunching its China-Red Sea OGRD service on 12 November to coincide with the resumption of its Suez transits. The service will call at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Jeddah, Sokhna, Aqaba, Jeddah, Port Klang and Qingdao, turning in 56 days. The service will initially deploy four vessels of 7,000 to 9,000 TEU operating on a fortnightly basis, starting with the 7,024 TEU Ever Superb at Qingdao on 12 November.