Maersk Returns to Red Sea Transits, According to Drewry
Container shipping line Maersk has resumed transits through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, according to maritime consultant Drewry. The move places the company among a growing number of major carriers returning to the route after an extended period of avoidance.
Drewry reported the development based on observed vessel movements. The consultant noted that Maersk is leading what it described as a growing stream of brand-name vessels now using the waterway again.
The Suez Canal remains the shortest maritime connection between Asia and Europe. When carriers divert around the Cape of Good Hope, voyages typically lengthen by 10 to 14 days depending on origin and destination. This added distance increases fuel consumption and reduces available vessel capacity on the trade lane.
Many carriers shifted services away from the Red Sea beginning in late 2023 following attacks on commercial shipping. Those diversions contributed to schedule disruptions and higher operating costs across multiple trade routes. A gradual return to the canal would represent a reversal of that pattern.
Drewry’s observation focuses on the presence of well-known carriers rather than total traffic volume. The consultant did not provide specific numbers of vessels or a timeline for the increase in transits.
For drivers moving freight connected to these services, changes in routing can affect delivery timing at ports on both sides of the canal. Longer voyages often translate into later vessel arrivals and shifts in container availability at inland terminals.
Drewry’s note does not address the reasons behind individual carrier decisions or provide forecasts for future traffic levels. The report is limited to the factual observation that Maersk and other major lines have begun routing vessels through the Suez Canal-Red Sea corridor once more.