Maersk returns MECL service to Trans-Suez route

A.P. Moller – Maersk has announced that its MECL service will return to the trans-Suez route, marking the first structural change back to Suez routing following recent successful transits through the Canal.

The decision follows the safe trans-Suez passages of the Maersk Sebarok and the Maersk Denver. With this development, Maersk will restore the MECL service to its original service pattern, enabling more efficient transit times for customers. The MECL service is solely operated by Maersk and connects the Middle East and India with the U.S. East Coast.

Maersk said it will continue to closely monitor the security situation in the Middle East. Any adjustments to the MECL service will remain dependent on continued stability in the Red Sea region and the absence of escalation in regional conflicts. The company reiterated that the safety of crews, vessels and customers’ cargo remains its highest priority, noting that contingency plans are in place should conditions deteriorate and require a temporary return to the Cape of Good Hope route.

Maersk underlined that trans-Suez routing remains its preferred option. Since diverting initial sailings away from the Red Sea, the company has maintained its intention to resume Suez transits once conditions allowed. The Suez Canal is described as a critical maritime corridor linking East and West and a key enabler of efficient global supply chains. Routing via the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait offers the fastest, most sustainable and most efficient option for transporting cargo between Asia, the Middle East, India and Europe.

The structural change of the MECL service represents a significant milestone in Maersk’s gradual resumption of trans-Suez sailings. The company highlighted the importance of its strategic partnership with the Suez Canal Authority in planning the return, noting that continued collaboration with regional partners is essential to ensure operational safety, predictability and stability for customers.

The first sailing under the revised MECL structure will be the Cornelia Maersk on voyage 603W, departing Jebel Ali on 15 January 2026. The Maersk Detroit voyage 602E, departing North Charleston on 10 January 2026, will be the first eastbound sailing to operate via the trans-Suez route, with all subsequent MECL sailings following the same routing.