Egypt's Suez Canal witnessed the transit of the CMA CGM ZEPHYR container ship on its southbound journey through the canal's new navigation channel, as it travelled from Singapore to the Port of Alexandria, the Cabinet has said in a statement. This marks the vessel's tenth transit through the canal following the introduction of flexible marketing and incentive policies by the Suez Canal Authority. Circular No. 3/2025 offers a 15 per cent discount for three months for container ships with net tonnage exceeding 130,000 tons, whether laden or empty. The Maltese-flagged CMA CGM ZEPHYR led the southbound traffic, measuring 366 metres in length, 51 metres in width, with a 53-foot draft, a gross tonnage of 164,000 tons, and carrying 11,800 TEUs. The Suez Canal Authority's (SCA) head affirmed that the canal continues to provide its navigational services uninterrupted, despite tensions in the Red Sea region. He added that the authority has adopted flexible pricing and marketing policies, along with new maritime and logistical services tailored to both routine and emergency conditions. He further noted that the new incentives have successfully reinstated six voyages from shipping line CMA CGM and four from MSC, highlighting the major lines' continued confidence in the Suez Canal once regional stability returns. Attribution: Amwal Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
