Giant Container Ship "CMA CGM SAINT GERMAIN" Transits Suez Canal

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Friday that the ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM SAINT GERMAIN, one of the world's biggest container ships, has completed its first-ever transit of the Suez Canal, marking another milestone as major shipping lines gradually return to the strategic waterway.

The French-operated vessel crossed the canal as part of the northbound convoy during its maiden passage through the route while sailing from Morocco to Malaysia, according to SCA Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie.

Operated by French shipping giant CMA CGM, the vessel measures 399.9 meters in length and 61.3 meters in width, with a draft of 16 meters. It has a gross tonnage of approximately 238,000 tons and a maximum carrying capacity of 23,876 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), placing it among the largest container ships currently in service.

Designed for long-haul operations between Europe and Asia, the vessel is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is equipped with an 18,600-cubic-meter fuel tank, enabling extended voyages with lower emissions. The ship operates on the NEU 5 FAL3 service, managed by the Ocean Alliance, which connects the Far East with Northwest Europe.

To ensure a safe transit during the vessel's inaugural passage, the Suez Canal Authority deployed senior marine pilots and provided tugboat assistance in line with its operational procedures for first-time transits.

In keeping with the authority's longstanding protocol, two senior SCA pilots boarded the vessel to welcome its crew and present the ship's captain with a commemorative gift marking the occasion.

Rabie said the continued passage of mega container ships through the canal reflects encouraging signs that major global shipping lines are gradually resuming regular use of the Suez Canal after a period of disruption.

He added that the waterway remains fully prepared to accommodate the world's largest and most advanced vessels, reinforcing its pivotal role in facilitating international trade and maintaining the resilience of global supply chains.

The SCA chief also highlighted the authority's ongoing efforts to enhance its portfolio of maritime services beyond canal transit. These include marine salvage, ship maintenance and repair, maritime ambulance services, bunkering, and crew-change operations—initiatives aimed at strengthening the canal's competitiveness and consolidating its position as one of the world's most important maritime trade corridors.