During a virtual meeting on 7 May, Admiral Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, and Christine Cabau, EVP of Assets and Operations at CMA CGM, reviewed the navigation policies of vessels in the Red Sea region, and discussed recent the implications of the recent developments in the region.
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) engaged with major shipping lines, ship owners, and maritime agencies following recent security developments in the Red Sea region. This move supports a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which welcomed a Yemen ceasefire achieved through Omani mediation and backed by the United States.
At the outset of the meeting, Admiral Ossama Rabiee expressed appreciation for the strategic partnership between the Suez Canal Authority and the French shipping line CMA CGM, which has resulted in the continued transit of some of the Group’s services through the Suez Canal despite the security challenges in the region.
Rabbie pointed out that the CMA CGM shipping line ranked first in terms of net tonnage of container vessels transiting the Canal during the first four months of 2025, representing a percentage of 19% of the total container vessel tonnage transiting the Canal during that period.
In addition he emphasized that the positive developments in the security situation in the Red Sea region are a positive sign and a building block for changing navigation policies and resuming transit through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
On her part, Christine Cabeau, Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at the CMA CGM Group, expressed her happiness with the positive developments in the security situation in the Red Sea region, which will be taken into consideration when the Group assesses the situation in the region and prepares navigation schedules, taking into account maritime safety considerations for vessels and crews, as well as developments.
The Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at the CMA CGM Group affirmed the Group’s keenness to return to transiting through the Suez Canal, considering it the shortest and fastest route compared to the Cape of Good Hope.
