COPENHAGEN: Maersk’s 17,200-TEU Bangkok Maersk made its first Suez Canal transit on 22 August, joining the northbound convoy on a voyage from Italy to Singapore as the liner’s traffic through the waterway increased, according to the Suez Canal Authority.
The 190,000-ton containership is 350 metres long with a beam of 56 metres. It is equipped with a dual-fuel engine capable of running on green methanol to reduce carbon emissions.
Bangkok Maersk is deployed on Maersk’s AE7 service, which directly connects major Asian ports with northern European and Mediterranean ports.
The ship was one of two Maersk-affiliated containerships in the northbound convoy that day. Mathilde Maersk led Canal traffic at 200,000 tons, followed by Bangkok Maersk.
SCA chairman and managing director Ossama Rabiee said navigation records were showing a considerable increase in daily traffic by Maersk-affiliated containerships and that several Europe-Asia maritime services had returned to the Canal.
Bangkok Maersk master Pata Radu said choosing the Suez Canal instead of sailing around Africa saves about 14 days, cutting voyage time and costs while supporting customers’ interests.
Radu also highlighted the New Suez Canal Project, the recently completed southern sector development project and the role of SCA pilots in vessel transits.
Under SCA protocol for ships making their first Canal transit, Distinguished Chief Pilot Hesham Helmy and Chief Pilot Galal Shabaka boarded Bangkok Maersk to welcome the crew and present a commemorative gift to the master.
A total of 57 vessels transited the Suez Canal that day, with combined net tonnage of 2.8m tons.
A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S is a Danish transport and logistics group with operations spanning ocean shipping, terminals, warehousing and other supply-chain services. The group operates in 130 countries and deploys more than 700 containerships.
The Suez Canal Authority is an Egyptian public authority with independent legal personality. Established in 1956, it manages, operates, maintains and develops the Suez Canal and sets the waterway’s navigation rules.
