Maersk begins resumption of operations through Red Sea/ Gulf of Aden

Maersk has announced it is implementing a structural return to the trans-Suez route for all Maersk MECL service.

This means that from the Cornelia Maersk voyage 603W, departing Salalah, Oman today (26 January 2026), MECL services will utilise a Westbound Trans-Suez route. The Maersk Detroit voyage 602E, with planned departure from Port Tangier, Morocco, on 03 February 2026, will return to the Trans-Suez route on all Eastbound MECL service sailings.

Maersk says it will continue to monitor the security situation in the region very closely, and any alteration to the MECL service will remain dependent on the ongoing stability in the Red Sea area and the absence of any escalation in regional conflict. The safety of crew, assets, and customers’ cargo remains the highest priority. Maersk has contingency plans in place should the security situation deteriorate, which may necessitate reverting individual MECL sailings or the wider structural change of the MECL service back to the Cape of Good Hope route.