Maersk carefully returns to the Red Sea

Danish shipowner Maersk made another careful step towards the restoration of shipping through the Red Sea. Container Maersk Denver, flying the flag of the United States, on the night of 11 to 12 January he entered the Red Sea waters heading for the Suez Canal.

This is only the second Maerska unit in over two years, which has decided to take this route. Earlier in late December, this trail had defeated Maersk Sebarok.

Crossing the Red Sea under special security supervision

Container voyage 552W on the classic MECL line, connecting India and the Middle East to the eastern coast of the United States. After the safe passage of the Bab al-Mandab Strait between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa Maersk Denver was found in the Red Sea on the night of 11 to 12 January, heading towards the Suez Canal from the south side.

The shipowner stresses that the cruise decision has been subject to additional safety procedures.

The safety of crews, ships and cargo remains our absolute priority. We have implemented special precautions and customers with loads on this unit are kept informed.

Maerska message

Conditional return and shadow of the crisis on the key trade route

At the same time, the company reduces expectations of a rapid and mass return to this route. Maersk reserves that it will gradually restore shipping in the Red Sea and Suez Canal to the East–West network only if a stable level of safety remains. No increase has yet been announced voyageand the shipowner publishes current messages in a dedicated website dedicated to the situation in the region.

The crisis on one of the world's key shipping routes broke out in 2023 when Yemeni Huti militants launched attacks on merchant ships, declaring them as a response to Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. As a result, the largest shipowners diverted the fleet to a tour around Africa. Since then there have been over 100 attacks on civilian units in which they have died eight sailors.

The consequences for global trade were significant: the transport time between Asia and Europe and America increased and traffic across the Red Sea fell by around 60%. Prior to the crisis, the Suez Canal served nearly 12% of world trade, being the fastest sea connection between the West and the East.

Careful optimism and first signs of the return of large shipowners

The situation began to stabilise after the entry into force of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in October 2025. No new attacks have been reported in the Red Sea since. The Suez Canal administration intensively seeks to rebuild the movement, and its boss, Admiral Ossama Rabiee, estimates that a return to normal coverage may take place in the second half of this year.

More decisive moves were made by the French CMA CGM group. At the end of December, two containers of this shipowner passed through the Suez Canal, including a 400-metre-long CMA CGM Jacques Saade which is the largest unit that's passed this route in two years. The shipowner announced that as of January his ships were to regularly resume shipping through the Suez Canal.