In a significant development for global shipping, the CMA CGM Osiris, a colossal container vessel operated by French carrier CMA CGM, has successfully navigated the Suez Canal—marking the first ultra-large container ship passage from the Bab al-Mandeb strait since March 2024. The 15356-TEU capacity vessel, with a staggering gross tonnage of 154,000 tons, completed its journey from Singapore to Alexandria, demonstrating renewed confidence in this critical maritime artery.
The transit coincides with the Suez Canal Authority's introduction of a three-month incentive program offering 15% toll discounts for container ships exceeding 130,000 net tons. This strategic move aims to revitalize traffic along the waterway following dramatic declines during the Red Sea security crisis. The Osiris represents the first mega-container vessel to benefit from this new pricing structure while transiting from Bab al-Mandeb.
Industry statistics reveal the scale of recent challenges: merely 647 container ships made bidirectional transits between January and April 2025—a sharp contrast to pre-crisis monthly averages exceeding 550 vessels. Notably, over 70% of transiting ships carried fewer than 4000 TEUs, while none exceeding 18,000 TEUs have been recorded for more than a year, highlighting persistent capacity gaps in global supply chains.
CMA CGM has emerged as a leader in the canal's recovery, with its mid-sized vessels CMA CGM Aquila and CMA CGM Callisto completing successful transits earlier this week. The French carrier now leads all shipping companies in both transit frequency and tonnage through the waterway during the first half of 2025.
Analysts view these developments as promising indicators for maritime commerce. The Osiris's passage—the first ultra-large container ship transit since Houthi attacks began disrupting Red Sea navigation in October 2023—suggests cautious optimism among carriers. Many had previously diverted ships around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to voyage times and substantially increasing operational costs.
The Suez Canal Authority's incentive program appears strategically timed as global trade shows signs of recovery. Maritime economists suggest the discounts could accelerate the return of larger vessels to the canal, potentially restoring pre-crisis traffic levels by late 2025 if security conditions continue improving.
While uncertainties persist in global shipping markets, the successful Osiris transit and accompanying policy measures signal a potential turning point for this vital maritime corridor. As the backbone of Eurasia's maritime trade, the Suez Canal's revitalization carries implications for supply chain efficiency, commodity prices, and ultimately, the broader global economy.
