At the end of 2023, the Red Sea shipping crisis has been affecting the nerves of all walks of life around the world. In terms of cross-border logistics, major shipping companies have chosen to suspend Red Sea voyages and bypass the Cape of Good Hope. Recently, however, CMA CGM said it was returning to the Red Sea.
Source: CMA CGM official website.
CMA CGM's official website issued the latest announcement on the operation of the Red Sea, and after reassessing the situation in the southern region of the Red Sea, it was decided to resume the transit of ships.
CMA CGM said that before each crossing, the situation of each ship is carefully assessed, with the need to be aware that it is not possible to ** or communicate route options. And all other ships will be diverted through the Cape of Good Hope.
In fact, CMA CGM was also one of the last major container shipping companies to stop transiting the Red Sea. On February 1, 2024, CMA CGM stopped transiting in the Red Sea, and all its ships passed through the Cape of Good Hope, but on February 20, CMA CGM had already begun to try to transit the Red Sea through the Red Sea route,—— container ship "CMA CGM Jules Verne" under the escort of the French Navy.
CMA CGM said in a statement: "With the assistance of the French Navy, the CMACGM Jules Verne passed through the Red Sea smoothly under the escort of a frigate.
It is understood that now 80% of container ships have turned to transit near the Cape of Good Hope. But with the resumption of CMA CGM, it is unclear whether more carriers will return to the Red Sea.
It is important to note that shippers who book through CMA CGM now need to evaluate cargo insurance more carefully to ensure that it is effective in the risk areas in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, as there is no way to know in advance whether the cargo will be affected by the choice of route, and similarly, shippers who book through Ocean Alliance partners COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL that may be operated by CMA CGM.