Maersk to Resume Red Sea Route Once Regional Safety Improves

Maersk said it plans to resume shipping through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal as soon as security conditions improve, with crew safety remaining its top priority. CEO Vincent Clerc made the announcement during a joint event with the Suez Canal Authority in Egypt, noting that the company will move “as fast as conditions allow” but will not commit to a specific date until the situation is stable.

The shipping line has avoided the Red Sea since early 2024, when attacks on commercial vessels forced carriers to reroute around Africa. Those diversions added significant travel time, raised fuel costs, and pushed global freight rates higher across major trade lanes.

Clerc said the company is encouraged by recent developments, including easing tensions near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and progress in regional diplomacy. These factors, he noted, are creating a more favourable environment for restoring the East-West corridor that links Asia and Europe.

• Maersk signals Red Sea return once shipping security improves
• Maersk prepares phased comeback to Red Sea and Suez routes
• Global trade eyes relief as Maersk plans Red Sea resumption

Egypt, which depends heavily on Suez Canal traffic, reported stronger revenues in recent months as more ships cautiously returned. Officials said the canal is prepared to support a gradual normalisation of transit if major carriers begin re-entering the route.

Maersk stressed that any restart will be phased to ensure vessels can move safely through high-risk areas. A partial return could begin in December if conditions continue to stabilise, though the company emphasised that no final decision has been made.

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A resumption of Red Sea transits by one of the world’s largest container carriers would mark a significant step toward restoring global shipping efficiency after nearly two years of disruptions.