Chairman of Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, announced the successful transit of the giant container ship CMA CGM SEINE, one of the world’s largest vessels, during its maiden voyage through the Suez Canal as part of the northbound convoy. The ship was en route to Malaysia from Morocco.
Owned by the French shipping group CMA CGM, the vessel operates on the FAL3 service, which connects Europe and the Far East. As the newest addition to the company’s fleet, the vessel was delivered in 2005. It measures 399 meters in length and 61.3 meters in width, with a draft of 40 feet, a gross tonnage of 250,000 tons, and a carrying capacity of up to 23,876 containers.
Lieutenant General Rabie directed the authority to take all necessary measures to ensure the vessel’s safe passage, including the assignment of a team of senior pilots, navigational support from accompanying tugboats, and continuous monitoring by the main traffic control centre and pilot stations along the canal.
In line with SCA procedures for first-time transits, the chairman delegated Senior Pilots Captain Abdel Rahman Fouad Shaheen and Captain Saeed Imam to board the vessel, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the ship’s captain.
Lt Gen Rabie emphasised that the transit of mega container ships underscores global confidence in the Suez Canal’s operational readiness and its role as the most efficient and sustainable route for international trade.
He added that CMA CGM has recorded increased transits of large container ships, with 15 vessels exceeding 130,000 tons since last December, out of 38 vessels transiting since last May under the Authority’s flexible pricing policies.
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