Maersk Prepares to Resume Suez Canal Shipping

Shipping giant Maersk announced on Tuesday that it is nearing the resumption of its shipping activities through the Suez Canal, nearly two years after attacks by Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels prompted many companies to steer clear of the Red Sea route leading to the canal.

During a statement, Maersk CEO Vincent Clark mentioned that while no specific date has been established for their ships to start sailing through the Suez Canal again, he anticipates it will happen “as soon as conditions allow.”

Clark emphasized that Maersk recognizes “significant progress” in efforts toward peace in the Middle East, expressing optimism about gradually resuming operations on this route. However, he reiterated that they aren’t prepared to set a timeline just yet.

He added that ensuring the safety of the crew remains a “top priority” for the company.

Interestingly, Clark’s comments, made at a joint press event in Egypt with Admiral Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), seem to diverge from SCA regulations. Reports have speculated that Maersk vessels might be back in the canal by December.

The SCA revealed that traffic through the canal started to rise again in October, following President Donald Trump’s introduction of a 20-point peace plan for Gaza. In 2024, the Houthis initiated attacks on international ships in the Red Sea using drones, missiles, and pirate ships in support of Hamas amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.

On November 10, the Houthis announced their decision to cease attacks on vessels, although they framed this as a “prohibition of Israeli navigation in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.” Since the ceasefire in Gaza began on October 10, there have been no further assaults on ships.

Most of the Houthi assaults occurred in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links Yemen and Djibouti with the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Due to the escalating tensions, Maersk halted operations through the Red Sea in December 2023 and officially ceased them in January 2024, opting for the longer and more costly route around Africa.

At a recent press conference, SCA officials declared they are “fully prepared to receive vessels and restore services to normal levels,” mentioning a newly expanded partnership agreement with Maersk.