The mega container ship CMA CGM VENDOME completed its first transit through the Suez Canal on June 9.
The vessel joined the northbound convoy while sailing from France to Malaysia.
CMA CGM operates the vessel. It measures 399.9 metres in length and 61.3 metres in beam. The ship sails with a 16-metre draft and a gross tonnage of 244,000 tonnes.
The vessel can carry up to 24,000 TEUs. It also features an LNG fuel tank with a capacity of 18,600 cubic metres, allowing longer voyages between Asia and Europe.
CMA CGM VENDOME operates on the Ocean Alliance’s FAL 3 service. The service links the Far East with North-West Europe.
The voyage marks the first southbound transit of the FAL 3 service through the Suez Canal since January 2026.
Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Admiral Ossama Rabiee directed SCA teams to provide full support during the transit.
The Authority assigned senior pilots to the vessel and deployed escort tugboats to ensure safe passage.
As part of the first-transit protocol, senior pilots boarded the vessel, welcomed the crew and presented a commemorative gift to the ship’s master.
Rabiee said geopolitical challenges continue to reshape shipping routes and global supply chains.
He said shorter transit times and lower operating costs are encouraging carriers to return to the Suez Canal instead of using the Cape of Good Hope route.
He added that the transit highlights the Canal’s ability to accommodate the world’s largest and most advanced container ships.
Rabiee also highlighted CMA CGM’s continued reliance on the waterway.
Between January and May 2026, CMA CGM completed 104 transits through the Canal. Those voyages generated a total tonnage of 12.5 million tonnes.
Rabiee said the Authority continues to improve navigation services and introduce new offerings to meet customer requirements and enhance maritime safety.
Captain Daniel Martin, master of CMA CGM VENDOME, said CMA CGM chooses the most efficient route for its customers.
He said the Suez Canal remains the preferred alternative to the Cape of Good Hope because it reduces voyage times and fuel consumption while providing a safer and more efficient transit.
