The journey marks the tenth container ship transit since the
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) rolled out a series of flexible marketing and
pricing policies aimed at attracting vessels back to the Canal. Under Circular
No. 3/2025, ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons, whether laden or
empty, are eligible for a 15 percent discount over a three-month period.
CMA CGM ZEPHYR measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters
in width, with a draft of 53 feet and a gross tonnage of 164,000 tons. The ship
is carrying 11,800 TEUs and led the Canal’s southbound convoy.
Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal
Authority, said the Canal remains fully operational despite ongoing tensions in
the Red Sea region. He noted that the Authority has introduced flexible pricing
strategies and new maritime and logistics services to meet the needs of clients
in both normal and emergency conditions.
Rabie added that the recent incentive measures have helped
restore six CMA CGM voyages and four operated by MSC, an indication of major
shipping lines’ readiness to resume transiting the Canal once regional
stability is restored.