The global platform Offshore Energy commends the Suez Canal's resilience over nearly two years in facing disturbances imposed by the current situation in the Red Sea region.
European Study: "44,000-ton increase in carbon emissions for Maersk vessels rerouted away from the Suez Canal during the Ever Given grounding incident."
Global Shipping Emissions to Rise by Approximately 33.3 Million Tons in 2024, Fuel Consumption to Increase by 10.2 Million Tons Due to Alternative Routes .
The Suez Canal's performance during the Red Sea crisis has garnered significant international attention and widespread praise, as highlighted in recent analytical and news reports from various international maritime platforms and websites.
In its international news coverage of the BYD XI'AN car carrier's transit through the Suez Canal, the Offshore Energy platform lauded the Suez Canal's resilience over nearly two years in facing the disturbances imposed by the current situation in the Red Sea region, amidst extensive rerouting of trade around the Cape of Good Hope.
In the same vein, India Shipping News confirmed that the successful transit of one of the world's largest car carriers through the Suez Canal underscores the Canal's operational flexibility and its central role in accommodating the resurgence of car carriers amid changing trade patterns due to Red Sea disruptions. Furthermore, Tradewinds News acknowledged these efforts, reflecting Egypt's aspirations towards Asia in hopes of increasing car carrier traffic through the Suez Canal despite challenges in the Red Sea region.
In another context, a recent European study published by the global platform Offshore Energy affirmed the strategic importance of the Suez Canal as the shortest, fastest, and most sustainable maritime passage from both a navigational and environmental perspective. This is due to its contribution to the stability of global supply chains and the reduction of harmful carbon emissions.
The study, conducted by a European research team in collaboration with the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, titled "Costs of Maritime Supply Chain Disruptions," highlighted increased environmental concerns as many shipping lines adopted alternative routes to the Suez Canal following the Red Sea crisis.
The study's analyses showed that carbon emissions resulting from extended voyages and waiting times for Maersk Group vessels that rerouted away from the Suez Canal increased to 44,574 tons during EVERGIVEN grounding crisis on March 2021. This study aims to leverage its findings as data to analyze the impact of the Red Sea crisis on global trade movements at present.
The Suez Canal Authority reaffirms its leadership in maritime sustainability by achieving time and distance savings compared to alternative routes, which contributes to reducing fuel consumption by 10% to 90% depending on the ports of origin and destination, and consequently, lowering harmful carbon emissions.
Suez Canal maritime reports indicate the Canal's contribution to reducing CO2 equivalent emissions from ships by approximately 55.4 million tons in 2023 compared to alternative routes, and saving about 16.9 million tons of fuel. Official reports from the Canal also reveal an increase in global emissions from maritime shipping in 2024 by approximately 33.3 million tons, along with a rise in fuel consumption by about 10.2 million tons, due to many shipping lines sailing via the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal as a result of security challenges in the Red Sea region.