9 months ago
Ultra-Large Container Ship Successfully Navigates Red Sea Amid Houthi Threats
A very big ship that carries lots of containers, called the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, just sailed through a really important sea called the Red Sea.
It's the first huge ship to do this safely in about two years.
Usually, big ships avoid this area because of attacks by a group called the Houthis.
These attacks made ships go the long way around Africa.
This big ship turned off its tracking for a few days, which is like hiding, and then turned it back on once it was safe.
This might mean other big ships could start using this faster route again soon.
However, some people think it's still a bit risky for ships, their cargo, and the people on board.
Using this route can help ships save time, especially for bringing empty containers back to where they are needed.
The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is the first ultra-large container ship in nearly two years to pass through the Red Sea safely.
Houthi attacks had previously disrupted commercial vessel activity in this critical maritime lane.
The vessel reactivated its AIS transponder near Socotra on November 7 after a six-day blackout, indicating it moved out of Houthi reach.
The ship is on a voyage from Southampton, UK, to Port Klang, Malaysia.
While this transit is significant, industry sources suggest it's too early to determine if it will lead to a full return to the Suez Canal route due to ongoing safety risks.
- Who
- The container vessel CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin
- What
- Became the first ultra-large container ship in almost two years to safely transit the Red Sea, reactivating its AIS transponder after a six-day blackout.
- Where
- Red Sea, between Asia and Europe
- When
- Monday (local time)
- Why
- To bypass the lengthy detour via the Cape of Good Hope, which ships have been taking due to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Key facts
- Vessel Name
- CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin
- Ship Type
- Ultra-large container ship
- Capacity
- 17,859 TEU
- Route
- Red Sea, Suez Canal, Arabian Sea
- Departure
- Southampton, UK on October 25
- Destination
- Port Klang, Malaysia on November 14
- Transit Date
- Monday (local time)
Quotes
Industry sources
Sources from the shipping industry.
“Linerlytica, the Hong Kong-based data driven market intelligence for the container shipping industry, in its online post, said CMA CGM JULES VERNE, a vessel deployed on the OCEAN Alliance’s MED2 service, is heading towards the Red Sea after its call at Singapore on November 2.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“though it is too early to comment if the return of the CMA CGM ship could trigger a full‑scale return to the Suez in the near term.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Leung
An individual named Leung, providing insights on shipping operations.
“these transits are primarily aimed at improving vessel turnaround times, including repositioning empty containers to Asia more quickly, as long as freight rates are attractive enough.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“If an Asia‑to‑North Europe ultra-large containership eventually takes the Red Sea route on its head-haul leg, it would be “significant” — since east‑to‑west voyages carry far more loaded cargo.”
thehindubusinessline.com
