The mega container vessel CMA CGM VENDOME has successfully completed its first transit through the Suez Canal, marking a significant milestone for both the French shipping giant CMA CGM and the Suez Canal Authority (SCA).
According to SCA Chairman and Managing Director Admiral Ossama Rabiee, the LNG-powered vessel transited the canal as part of the northbound convoy on its voyage from France to Malaysia. Measuring 399.9 metres in length, with a beam of 61.3 metres and a gross tonnage of 244,000 tonnes, the vessel has a carrying capacity of 24,000 TEUs and is equipped with an 18,600-cubic-metre LNG fuel tank, enabling longer and more efficient voyages between Asia and Europe.
The vessel operates on CMA CGM’s FAL 3 service within the Ocean Alliance network, connecting the Far East with North-West Europe. Its transit marks the first southbound passage of the FAL 3 service through the Suez Canal since January 2026.
To ensure safe navigation, the Suez Canal Authority assigned senior pilots and escort tugboats to accompany the vessel. In line with SCA tradition for first-time transits, senior pilots boarded the ship to welcome the crew and present a commemorative gift to the vessel’s master.
Admiral Rabiee highlighted that ongoing geopolitical challenges have reshaped global shipping patterns, making shorter transit times and operational efficiency increasingly important for carriers. He noted that the return of some of the world’s largest and most advanced container vessels to the Suez Canal demonstrates the waterway’s enduring strategic value compared with the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope.
The SCA chief also revealed that CMA CGM recorded 104 canal transits between January and May 2026, accounting for a total tonnage of 12.5 million tonnes, underlining the shipping group’s continued reliance on the Suez Canal as a key trade corridor.
Capt. Daniel Martin, Master of CMA CGM VENDOME, said the company remains committed to selecting the most efficient routes for its customers, emphasizing that the Suez Canal continues to offer significant advantages, including reduced voyage times, lower fuel consumption, and safer navigation compared with the Cape of Good Hope route, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
The transit of CMA CGM VENDOME further underscores the Suez Canal’s capability to accommodate the world’s largest container ships while maintaining its position as the preferred maritime link between East and West.
