A gradual return to the Suez Canal seems to be gathering momentum, with several shipping lines restoring selected sailings despite renewed security concerns around the southern Red Sea.

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, operating through the Gemini Cooperation, have announced plans to return four additional services to Suez routing. AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 connect Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, with European markets.

Avoiding the Cape of Good Hope diversion could reduce Asia-Europe legs by 10–14 days, depending on the service. Two of the returning services include direct London Gateway calls, making the developments particularly relevant to UK importers and exporters.

OOCL has also completed a notable transit. On 16 September, OOCL Portugal sailed through the canal on its eastbound journey from Belgium to China, marking the carrier’s first return since the security crisis triggered widespread rerouting.

MSC has meanwhile announced selected Suez sailings on several routes, including eastbound voyages on its Albatros Asia–North Europe service and departures on Mediterranean services. Reports also point to selected returns involving CMA CGM and COSCO, although detailed confirmation remains limited.

However, the security backdrop remains unsettled. Recent Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coastline have strengthened the group’s position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical passage for vessels using the Suez route.

Carriers continue to assess conditions, and individual sailings could be diverted again if risks increase. Businesses should therefore check routing and transit times against their specific bookings.

Unique Forwarding is monitoring these developments and their implications for customers. Contact our team for the latest sailing options and support with planning your shipments.