Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is expanding its gradual return to the Suez Canal and Red Sea, with the carrier restoring westbound sailings on its Indusa service connecting the Indian subcontinent with the United States and Mexico.
The resumption will begin with MSC Domna X (Voyage IV637A), which is scheduled to depart Colombo on September 23, with westbound cargo routed through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
However, MSC will continue to route eastbound Indusa sailings via the Cape of Good Hope, reflecting the carrier’s cautious, service-by-service approach to restoring Red Sea operations amid continuing security considerations.
The move follows MSC’s decision in August to begin a partial restoration of Suez Canal transits on selected East-West services. The initial services identified for the transition included Jade, Albatros, Himalaya and Tiger, covering trades between Asia and the Mediterranean, North Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
MSC has indicated that the return to the Suez route is being implemented on a case-by-case basis. Booking confirmations and online schedules are being progressively updated as individual voyage plans are finalised.
The carrier is also retaining contingency arrangements to enable vessels to be rerouted if operational or security conditions change. MSC continues to monitor developments in coordination with relevant authorities and security partners.
The addition of the Indusa westbound service marks another step in MSC’s gradual restoration of container capacity through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, as carriers reassess the operational viability of the shorter Asia-Europe and Asia-Americas maritime corridor following prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope.