Danish shipping giant Maersk has completed its first voyage through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in almost two years, marking a cautious milestone amid ongoing regional security concerns.
The company said one of its vessels, the Maersk Sebarok, successfully made the transit on Thursday and Friday. However, Maersk stressed that the move does not signal a full reopening of the strategic route or a return to the trans-Suez corridor for its broader East-West network.
Maersk began diverting ships around the Cape of Good Hope in January 2024 after attacks on commercial vessels by Yemen’s Houthi militants, linked to the conflict in Gaza. While the latest passage represents a “significant step forward,” the company said it is only considering a stepwise approach toward a potential resumption, with no additional Red Sea sailings currently planned.
