Maersk, the world’s second-largest container carrier, this week denied a report that one of its ships recently transited a critical Middle East shipping route.
A report by British analyst Drewry said a Maersk vessel transited the threatened Red Sea-Suez Canal trade lane the week of May 17.
“We cannot confirm what you are hearing and what Drewry is apparently reporting,” said Maersk (OTC: AMKBY) spokesman Jesper Lov, in an email to FreightWaves.
Major container lines and tanker operators have mostly avoided the route since late 2023, when Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked shipping in support of Gaza. The largest ships connecting Asia with the Mediterranean, Europe and North America have been diverted voyages around Africa, adding as much as two weeks’ sailing time to a typical voyage.
The Red Sea crisis reset global shipping, with the diversions from it and the Strait of Hormuz absorbing the equivalent of 2 million containers in annual capacity.
Suez Canal traffic and toll revenue were both higher in early 2026 than in the same period of 2025, but they were still far below pre-crisis levels. From January 1 to February 8, 2026, the canal handled 1,315 vessels and earned $449 million, versus 1,243 vessels and $368 million in the same period of 2025. Canal revenue in 2024 had fallen sharply to about $4 billion from $10.25 billion in 2023, showing how severe the Red Sea disruption had been.
The diversions have come with new dangers. There have been four confirmed hijackings this year off the coast of Somalia, according to the International Chamber of Commerce Commercial Crime Service, with three ships and their crews still held captive.
The frequency and intensity of the attacks on Red Sea vessels waned in 2025 as Houthi sponsor Iran was overwhelmed by its own domestic troubles. Major liners tested a return to the Red Sea earlier this year only to see their plans upended by the war in Iran, and more threats by the Houthi.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Port Houston sees April cargo dip, expects rebound in May
Supply Chain AI Symposium
Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.
The Old Post • Chicago, IL Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now