190,000-Ton Maersk Containership Makes First Suez Canal Transit On Europe-Asia Voyage

The Suez Canal has successfully brought back numerous maritime services operating on the trade route between Europe and Asia.

Navigation reports on the Suez Canal record a considerable increase in the daily traffic rates of Maersk-affiliated container ships.

Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, announced that traffic through the Canal witnessed the transit of the container ship BANGKOK MAERSK on its first voyage through the Canal amongst vessels of the northern convoy on its way from Italy to Singapore.

The 190-thousand-ton Maersk-affiliated vessel is 350 m. in length, has a beam of 56 m. and can carry 17200 TEUs on board. It is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that is capable of running on green methanol to reduce the levels of harmful carbon emissions.

The vessel currently operates as a part of Maersk’s AE7 maritime service which directly connects Asia’s major ports with North European and Mediterranean ports.

In accordance with the SCA’s protocol for vessels transiting through the Canal for the first time, Adm. Rabiee delegated Capt. Hesham Helmy, Distinguished Chief Pilot, and Capt. Galal Shabaka, Chief Pilot, to board the vessel, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the vessel’s Master.

On that same note, Adm. Rabiee underscored that the Suez Canal has successfully brought back numerous maritime services operating on the trade route between Europe and Asia in a step reflecting the Canal’s strategic significance as a main axis linking the East and the West.

H.E. clarified that naviagtion reports on the Canal are now recording a considerable increase in the daily traffic rates of Maersk-affiliated container ships, as the container ship MATHILDE MAERSK led today’s traffic through the Canal by a tonnage of 200 thousand tons, followed by the container ship BANGKOK MAERSK, making the number of Maersk-affiliated vessels transiting through the Canal today two vessels amongst the northern convoy.

On his part, the Shipmaster, Capt. Pata Radu, emphasized that the choice of the Suez Canal over navigating around Africa saves approximately 14 days which is reflected positively in voyage time and cost savings as well as maintaining clients’ interests.

Capt. Radu lauded the SCA’s efforts in developing the waterway; namely the success of the New Suez Canal Project in increasing the Canal’s efficiency, as well as the increased margin of navigational safety achieved through the recently-completed southern sector development project.

He also praised the role played by the SCA’s pilots especially their cooperation and efficiency to facilitate vessels’ safe transit.
It is worth mentioning that traffic through the Canal today has recorded the transit of 57 vessels of a total net tonnages of 2.8 million tons.