Suez Canal Authority Chief: US/Yemen ceasefire announcement key factor in reducing maritime safety concerns

CAIRO – 9 May 2025: Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), met with representatives of 25 major shipping lines and agencies at the Authority’s headquarters in the Guidance Building, Ismailia Governorate. 

The meeting was held in the presence of Mr. Adel El-Lamei, Chairman of the Port Said Chamber of Shipping.

During the meeting, Admiral Rabie highlighted the impact of positive developments in the Red Sea security situation on freedom of navigation. He pointed to the recent ceasefire announcement in Yemen, made in coordination with the United States, as a key factor in reducing maritime safety concerns in the region.

Rabie stated: “We call on all shipping lines to seriously consider evaluating their sailing schedules and the possibility of gradually resuming the transit of some of their vessels through the region.”

He emphasized the importance of constructive engagement with the current developments and the need for collective efforts to ease pressure on global supply chains. Rabie affirmed that the Suez Canal is fully prepared to offer all necessary services under both normal and emergency circumstances.

He also underscored the strategic partnership between the Suez Canal Authority and its clients, reaffirming the SCA’s commitment to continuous improvement. He highlighted the Authority's achievements in upgrading the Canal’s navigation channel and maritime fleet, alongside expanding service offerings and seeking external partnerships to serve mutual interests.

The SCA, he added, is ready to provide an integrated package of navigational and maritime services, including ship maintenance and repairs, maritime rescue and ambulance services, crew replacement, and environmentally safe waste disposal—reflecting its dedication to green transformation and sustainability.

The meeting concluded with consensus on the importance of unified action and transparent communication to restore confidence in the Red Sea route and ensure the sustained vitality of global maritime trade through the Suez Canal.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the country will halt bombings against the Houthis after the group agreed to stop targeting Red Sea shipping.

“They have capitulated,” Trump said about the Houthis during an Oval Office meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“The Houthis have announced … that they don’t want to fight any more. They just don’t want to fight. And we will honour that, and we will stop the bombings.”

Oman, which mediated between the US and the Houthis, confirmed that the deal will ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

The ceasefire agreement comes shortly after Israeli forces launched strikes on Yemen’s Hudaydah port city and Sanaa airport earlier this week, killing several people and wounding dozens more.

Additional Reporting by Amr Mohamed Kandil