Return of COSCO to Suez Canal

Rise in the total net tonnages of container ships transiting through the Canal to 72.1 million tons during the first eight months of this year.

Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, announced that traffic through the Canal today witnessed the first transit of the mega container ship OOCL PORTUGAL amongst vessels of the north convoy on its voyage from Belgium to China.

The vessel affiliated to COSCO SHIPPING Lines is approximately 400 m. in length, has a beam of 61.3 m., a gross tonnage of 247 thousand tons and can carry up to 24 thousand TEUs on board.

The vessel currently operates as a part of the maritime service NEU2; operated by Ocean Alliance directly connecting the main ports on the trade route between The Far East and North-West Europe.

In accordance with the Suez Canal Authority’s protocol for ships transiting through the Canal for the first time, Adm. Rabiee delegated Capt. Saeed Imam, Chief Pilot, Capt. Mohamed Abdel Jalil, Chief Pilot, and Capt. Ahmed Etman, Chief Pilot, to board the vessel, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the vessel’s master.

H.E. highlighted the special significance of this voyage, as it marks the first time COSCO SHIPPING Lines has transited through the Suez Canal southbound since the tensions in the Red Sea and Bab El-Mandab.

Adm. Rabiee stated that the Suez Canal has successfully brought back numerous maritime services operated by major shipping lines, including (CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, Hapag Lloyd, COSCO), operating on the trade route between Europe and Asia. This achievement underscores the Canal’s strategic importance as a key link between the East and the West.

H.E. explained that the Canal’s naviagtion reports have recorded a rise in the tonnages of Canal-transiting container ships, highlighting that net tonnages have increased by 54.2%; recording approximately 72.1 million tons during the period from January – August of 2026 compared to 46.7 million tons during the same period of 2025.

It is worth mentioning that traffic through the Canal today has witnessed the transit of 39 vessels at a total net tonnages of 2.3 million tons.