Maersk's first large methanol dual-fuel vessel, the "Astrid Maersk," has successfully completed its planned transit through the Suez Canal, marking the return of an important Suez route.

Earlier, Maersk announced the establishment of the "Gemini Cooperation," a joint venture with Hapag-Lloyd, to restore connections between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India. This is the first similar route to be re-operated since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis in early 2024.

According to tracking in the maritime industry, Maersk's ships such as the "Maersk Sebarok," "Maersk Denver," and "Cornelia Maersk" conducted trial voyages in the region from December last year to January this year. However, the company has made it clear that crossing the Red Sea still requires the support of "naval escort."

Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority, personally witnessed the passage of the "Astrid Maersk" (16,592 TEU, built in 2024). This voyage is seen as a crucial step by the Suez Canal Authority to boost transit volume, aiming to showcase the competitive advantage of the canal and the stability of the region to the market.

According to official data, a total of 36 vessels completed the transit on Tuesday, with a total tonnage of about 2 million tons, including the "Astrid Maersk." However, the current transit volume is still about half of the peak period.

Reports indicate that the "Astrid Maersk" completed loading and unloading operations at the container terminal in Port Said East and refueled with methanol before transiting the Suez Canal, joining the southbound convoy towards Oman. It is worth noting that images from the scene show that the actual cargo load of the vessel for this voyage was significantly lower than its designed capacity.

The Suez Canal Authority emphasized that the incentive mechanisms and flexible marketing strategies launched in 2025 have been effective, successfully attracting 784 ships with a total net tonnage of 36.6 million tons. Chairman Rabiee stated that these measures have helped the authority generate revenue exceeding $170 million.

During this transit, the "Astrid Maersk" received a 15% discount on transit fees. According to the relevant discount program, container ships with a net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons, whether fully loaded or empty, are eligible for this discount policy. Statistics show that since the implementation of the policy in May last year, 64 eligible vessels with a total net tonnage of 9.9 million tons have been attracted.