Adm. Rabiee: "The security developments in the Red Sea region are a good sign and a positive indicator that can be built upon for the return of navigation to the region."
CMA CGM's Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations: "We are keen on going back to transiting through the Suez Canal as the shortest and fastest route compared to the Cape of Good Hope route."
In light of the Suez Canal Authority's keenness on proactively dealing with the positive security developments in the Red Sea region, and in affirmation of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement expressing that Egypt welcomes the success of the efforts resulting in a ceasefire in Yemen with the United States of America thanks to Omani mediation, the SCA has initiated efforts to communicate with its clientele of major shipping lines, ship owners and maritime agencies to discuss the impact of the positive security developments in the Red Sea region on freedom of navigation.
And in an immediate response to those developments, H.E. held a meeting today with Ms. Christine Cabau, CMA CGM's Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations, and Mr. Tariq Zaghloul, CMA CGM Egypt and Sudan Cluster CEO, to discuss ways of future cooperation and coordination via video conference.
The meeting witnessed reviewing the navigation policies of vessels affiliated to the French shipping line in the Red Sea region, and discussions on ways of benefiting from these positive indicators to restore stability in the region.
At the outset of the meeting, Admiral Ossama Rabiee expressed his appreciation for the strategic partnership between the Suez Canal Authority and the French shipping line CMA CGM, which has resulted in the continued transit of some of the Group's services through the Suez Canal despite the security challenges in the region.
H.E. the Chairman of the Authority pointed out that the CMA CGM shipping line ranked first in terms of net tonnage of container vessels transiting the Canal during the first four months of 2025, representing a percentage of 19% of the total container vessel tonnage transiting the Canal during that period.
Admiral Rabiee emphasized that the positive developments in the security situation in the Red Sea region are a positive sign and a building block for changing navigation policies and resuming transit through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
On her part, Ms. Christine Cabeau, Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at the CMA CGM Group, expressed her happiness with the positive developments in the security situation in the Red Sea region, which will be taken into consideration when the Group assesses the situation in the region and prepares navigation schedules, taking into account maritime safety considerations for vessels and crews, as well as developments.
The Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at the CMA CGM Group affirmed the Group's keenness to return to transiting through the Suez Canal, considering it the shortest and fastest route compared to the Cape of Good Hope.
Moreover, Ms. Christine Cabeau pointed out that the Group already has a fixed service that transits through the Suez Canal, noting in this regard the Group's efforts to operate an additional service in the coming period.