Suez Canal traffic resumes as CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin transits

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on 8th November 2025 that the giant container ship CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, measuring 399 metres long, 54 metres wide, with a draft of 13.5 metres and a capacity of 17,859 TEU (net tonnage 177,000 tons) has successfully transited the canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This marks the largest container vessel to cross the canal in two years and is being viewed as a sign of renewed confidence among major shipping lines.

Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the SCA, said the vessel’s transit reflects the gradual return of giant container ships to the Suez Canal route, supported by growing stability in the Red Sea region and the incentives introduced by the authority to attract global shipping lines. He also affirmed the canal’s readiness to handle the world’s largest vessels safely and efficiently.

The SCA stated that this development represents a turning point after a challenging period when navigation in the Red Sea region was disrupted due to regional tensions, leading several shipping lines to divert their vessels to longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope. Such diversions had previously impacted the canal’s traffic volumes and global supply chains.

In a meeting held on 4th November 2025 with representatives from 20 shipping lines and agencies, the SCA reviewed the performance of the canal over the recent months. The authority reported that between July and October 2025, a total of 4,405 vessels carrying 185 million tons of cargo passed through the canal, compared to 4,332 vessels carrying 167.6 million tons during the same period in 2024. The increase in both the number of ships and the tonnage indicates a steady recovery in canal traffic. The SCA highlighted that 229 vessels returned to the Suez Canal in October alone, marking the highest monthly rate of returning ships since the beginning of the regional crisis.

During the meeting, Admiral Rabiee reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to supporting its partners by maintaining direct communication and offering competitive incentives to shipping companies. He pointed out that the SCA has intensified its marketing and operational efforts to encourage the return of shipping lines that had temporarily suspended their transits. The authority also noted ongoing cooperation with navigation agencies to address the challenges that remain, including high insurance costs and varying levels of maritime security in certain areas of the Red Sea.

Further strengthening its engagement with global carriers, the SCA held a virtual meeting on 6th November 2025 with executives of A.P. Moller–Maersk Group (Maersk). Discussions focused on the company’s gradual return to full navigation through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb region. Both parties explored future cooperation in multiple sectors such as ship scrapping, container maintenance, logistics services, and shipyard development. Admiral Rabiee underlined the importance of Maersk’s return, considering its leading role in global container shipping.

This revival of large-scale canal traffic is an important development. The Suez Canal serves as a critical trade corridor for Indian exports and imports to and from Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Increased traffic through the canal will likely shorten transit times and reduce freight costs for Indian shippers who rely on this route for containerised goods, machinery, and raw materials.

The SCA also continues its efforts to enhance canal capacity and operational readiness. The authority recently completed deepening and expansion works on several canal sections, including the western branch of Port Said, adding further efficiency and safety to navigation. These improvements, combined with the gradual return of major shipping lines like CMA CGM and Maersk, underline the canal’s continuing strategic importance for global and Indian trade alike.

Although some challenges remain due to security conditions and insurance rates, the SCA’s engagement with industry leaders and its transparent communication suggest that confidence in the Suez Canal is being restored. For India’s logistics and trade sector, the canal’s recovery offers hope for smoother, faster, and more cost-effective movement of goods across continents.