NYN | News
The giant container vessel “CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin,” operated by the French shipping company CMA CGM, is preparing to cross the Red Sea—an unprecedented move since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis triggered by the Israeli war on Gaza, according to the maritime intelligence platform “Lloyd’s List.”
The platform explained that the ship’s passage through the Red Sea in the coming days will mark the first real test of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, signaling the start of trial movements toward the resumption of maritime navigation.
“Lloyd’s List” added that ship traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait has seen a slight increase in 2025 compared to 2024, though it remains below pre-crisis levels.
As for mega container ships with a capacity exceeding 14,000 TEUs, only 13 voyages were recorded during the first nine months of this year, all operating on Asia–Mediterranean routes and belonging to CMA CGM.
The platform noted that this move represents the first passage of a vessel exceeding 17,000 TEUs through the Suez Canal since January 2023, reflecting the French company’s readiness to gradually test the possibility of safely resuming navigation through the Red Sea.
