Maersk cautiously resumes Red Sea transits amid Gaza truce

Global container major Maersk has taken another step toward restoring operations through the Red Sea, with one of its vessels completing a successful passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month, as the ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold.

The Danish shipping company said the U.S.-flagged Maersk Denver, operating on the MECL service, transited the strait and entered the Red Sea between January 11 and 12. The move follows a similar trial in December, when the Maersk Sebarok became the company’s first vessel in nearly two years to sail the route.

Shipping lines have been reassessing the vital Asia–Europe corridor after widespread diversions around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, triggered by attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attacks, which the Houthis said were linked to the Gaza conflict, disrupted one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

Maersk said it is adopting a cautious, phased strategy. “Provided security conditions continue to meet our thresholds, we will proceed step by step toward a gradual resumption of East–West services via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea,” the company said, adding that no further sailings have yet been scheduled.

Before the security crisis, the Suez Canal handled nearly 10% of global seaborne trade, making it the fastest and most critical maritime link between Asia and Europe.

The ceasefire in Gaza, in effect since October last year, has eased large-scale hostilities and revived expectations of a return to normal shipping patterns. However, tensions remain, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations since the truce began.