Cairo – February 2, 2025: Osama Rabie, head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), is actively working to persuade major shipping companies to resume their transits through the canal, after a period of instability in the Red Sea region.
In a meeting with representatives from 23 prominent maritime companies, Rabie shared his optimism about the region’s recovery, highlighting that “the current conditions in the Red Sea region are witnessing many positive indicators towards the start of stability returning to the region.”
Following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which prompted Yemen’s Houthi rebels to announce they would target only Israeli-linked vessels, traffic through the Suez Canal has started to slowly increase.
Last week, reports revealed that six ships connected to the US and UK safely passed through the Red Sea since January 19. However, this remains a small fraction of the typical traffic the canal usually handles.
Shipping giants Maersk, MSC, and Mitsui OSK continue to avoid the route due to ongoing security concerns.
Rabie reassured the maritime community that the Suez Canal was prepared to accommodate major shipping lines at full capacity.
He stated that the canal is “taking many measures to ensure safety and efficiency,” including offering new services such as marine rescue, maritime ambulance, pollution control, and ship maintenance.
Several key figures in the maritime industry voiced their support for the Suez Canal’s efforts to restore its services.
Bahaa Badr, Chairman of the Arabian Gulf Marine Trading, praised the authority’s proactive approach, noting that the Suez Canal’s development of new maritime and logistical services would help encourage major shipping lines to return to the canal.
Ehab El-Bannan, Chairman of Clarkson Shipping, stressed the importance of continued communication between the Suez Canal Authority and the shipping industry.
He suggested that the Authority explore offering temporary incentives to encourage ships to return to the canal. He emphasized that such incentives could help stimulate traffic and support the recovery process.
Hani El-Nadi, representative of A.P. Moller – Maersk Group in the Middle East and North Africa, expressed the group’s eagerness to resume transits through the Suez Canal once the security situation stabilizes fully. He mentioned that the group is closely monitoring the positive developments in the Red Sea region and stands ready to return to the canal as soon as the situation permits.
Tariq Zaghloul, CEO of CMA CGM Group in Egypt and Sudan, recognized the strategic importance of the Suez Canal to the French shipping group. He noted that some of the group’s ships have been passing through the canal daily and that they are awaiting continued stability in the region to decide on expanding services through the canal.
Abdel Qader Gaballah, Chairman of the Suez Chamber of Shipping, expressed optimism for the gradual return of maritime traffic to the region, conveying hope that the Suez Canal would soon see a breakthrough in the restoration of full operations, stressing the importance of shipping agencies in conveying an accurate picture of the situation to shipping lines and companies.
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