Danish shipping major A.P. Moller–Maersk has announced a structural shift back to the trans-Suez route for all its Middle East–India–US East Coast (MECL) services, ending nearly two years of diversions via the Cape of Good Hope.
The move follows continued stabilisation in the Red Sea region after Houthi attacks had forced major liners to avoid the Suez corridor since late 2023. Maersk said the improved security environment now allows a return to the original service design, offering faster and more reliable transit times.
The transition begins westbound with Cornelia Maersk, departing Salalah, Oman, on January 26. Eastbound MECL sailings will follow suit from February 3, starting with Maersk Detroit departing Tangier, Morocco.
The decision comes after a series of successful Red Sea transits by large container vessels, including CMA CGM’s Benjamin Franklin in November and Maersk’s own Maersk Sebarok, which safely passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea in December 2025.
Maersk said the trans-Suez route remains the fastest and most efficient option for MECL, reducing transit times by around one week. However, the company stressed that crew and cargo safety remains paramount and that contingency plans are in place should the security situation deteriorate, including reverting individual sailings or the entire service back to the Cape of Good Hope.
The return marks a significant step towards normalisation of East-West container shipping networks after prolonged disruption in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.
