The development came after canal traffic witnessed the
transit of the ultra large container vessel CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, one of the
largest container ships in the world, as part of the northbound convoy. The
canal also saw the passage of the container vessel CMA CGM ADONIS within the
southbound convoy, carrying 154 thousand tons, following the announcement of
the full return of vessels belonging to the French CMA CGM Group.
The container vessel CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE, which operates
on liquefied natural gas, led northbound traffic through the canal during its
voyage from Morocco to Malaysia. The vessel is 400 meters long and 62 meters
wide, with a net tonnage of 231 thousand tons. The ship has a capacity of up to
23 thousand twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The canal also witnessed the transit of the container vessel
MAERSK SEBAROK as part of the southbound convoy after passing through Bab Al
Mandab. The vessel was sailing from the Port of Salalah in Oman to the United
States. The transit marked the first container vessel belonging to the MAERSK
Group to pass through the canal following the signing of the strategic
partnership agreement between the two sides. The vessel is 318 meters long and
40 meters wide, with a draft of 14 meters and a gross tonnage of 82 thousand
tons.
The Cabinet Media Center stated that these serious steps are
expected to have a significant impact in bringing about positive changes in the
maritime transport market. The center added that the moves encourage other
shipping lines to adjust their sailing schedules and resume voyages from the
Red Sea and Bab Al Mandab strait through the Suez Canal.