Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), announced that the Suez Canal witnessed the successful transit of the giant container vessel CMA CGM SEINE, one of the largest container ships in the world. The vessel crossed as part of the northbound convoy during its maiden voyage, sailing from Morocco and bound for Malaysia.
The vessel, owned by the French shipping line CMA CGM, operates under the FAL3 maritime service, which serves the trade route between Europe and the Far East. As the newest addition to the group’s fleet (delivered in 2025), the ship boasts a Length Overall of 399 meters, beam of 61.3 meters, draft of 40 feet, gross tonnage of 250,000 tons, and an accomodation capacity up to 23,876 TEUs
SCA Chairman issued directives to implement all necessary measures to ensure a safe transit. This included appointing a group of Senior Pilots and providing navigational aids through escort tugs, in addition to real-time monitoring via SCA main traffic control center and pilotage stations positioned along the waterway.
In accordance with SCA protocol for maiden voyages, Admiral Rabiee delegated Senior First Class Pilots: Abdul Rahman Fouad Shahin and Saeed Emam, to board the vessel, welcome the crew, and present a commemorative plaque to the ship's Master.
Admiral Rabiee emphasized that the return of the world’s largest and most modern container ships to the Suez Canal reflects deep-seated confidence in the Canal’s readiness. He highlighted it as the most efficient and sustainable route for global trade between the East and West.
The Chairman further noted that these significant developments are expected to drive positive shifts in the maritime transport market, which encourages other shipping lines to adjust their sailing schedules and resume voyages through the Red Sea and Bab al Mandab, utilizing the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal Authority has focused on upgrading maritime and navigational services while introducing new offerings to meet client demands and ensure the highest standards of maritime safety for ultra-large vessels.
Furthermore, Admiral Rabiee stated that CMA CGM Group has seen an increase in transit rates for its vessels exceeding 130,000 net tons. Since last December, 15 such vessels have transited, contributing to a total of 38 group vessels that have utilized the Canal since May, benefiting from SCA’s flexible pricing policies.