The Suez Canal has marked another significant milestone with the successful transit of the ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM JULES VERNE, reaffirming the waterway’s readiness to accommodate the world’s newest and biggest ships. The vessel crossed safely through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb before joining the southbound convoy from Singapore to Lebanon.
This transit represents the ship’s first passage from the southern entrance via Bab al-Mandeb, and its third transit through the canal this year, following two northbound voyages in June and September under the Suez Canal Authority’s new incentive program.
Technical Specifications
- Length: 396 m
- Beam: 53.6 m
- Draft: 11.5 m
- Gross Tonnage: 176,000 tons
During his onboard inspection of the vessel, Adm. Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), reiterated the canal’s full readiness to handle mega container ships, emphasizing the continued enhancements in navigation services, safety measures, and traffic management. He also met with the ship’s officers to discuss their experience navigating the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, alongside representatives of CMA CGM Egypt & Sudan.
First Transit for CMA CGM HELIUM
On the same day, the canal also welcomed CMA CGM HELIUM on its maiden voyage through the Suez Canal. The vessel joined the southbound convoy en route from Singapore to Alexandria.
Specifications:
- Length: 335 m
- Beam: 51 m
- Draft: 9.5 m
- Gross Tonnage: 130,000 tons
To ensure safe and efficient passage, the SCA deployed senior pilots, escort tugs, and real-time monitoring from the main traffic control center and all navigation stations along the canal.
Strengthening Strategic Ties with CMA CGM
Adm. Rabie praised the long-standing strategic partnership between the Suez Canal and the French shipping line CMA CGM, highlighting the company’s commitment to routing its vessels through the canal despite recent security concerns in the Red Sea. The successful transit of both the JULES VERNE, one of the group’s largest ships, and HELIUM, one of its newest, reflects the continued confidence in the Suez Canal as the shortest, fastest, and safest global shipping route.
Rabie added that the return of stability to the Red Sea is creating a new global maritime landscape one in which major carriers are now actively reconsidering routing schedules to return to the Bab al-Mandeb–Suez Canal corridor.
The SCA plans to intensify meetings with international shipping lines in the coming weeks to explore phased return strategies, including test voyages, partial fleet returns, or full reinstatement of Suez Canal transits.
Vessel Feedback
Captain Slavko Malasic, Master of CMA CGM JULES VERNE, expressed his satisfaction with the transit, noting that CMA CGM vessels faced no challenges while crossing the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. He commended the SCA’s continuous development projects particularly the Southern Sector Expansion, which has significantly improved navigational safety and reduced waiting times.
Traffic Snapshot
On the same day, the Suez Canal recorded the transit of 38 vessels, with a combined net tonnage of 1.7 million tons, highlighting the canal’s ongoing role as a vital artery of global trade.
