MSC Oliver
By Alison Koo
18 August 2026
MSC has joined its peers in resuming Suez Canal transits, sending seven ships through the waterway this month.
Container shipping consultancy Linerlytica’s report today shows transits were as follows:
the 23,782 teu MSC Amelia, deployed to MSC’s China-Mediterranean Tiger service crossed the Suez on 31 July and Bab el Mandeb Strait on 3 August;
the 13,102 teu MSC Vega, on MSC’s China-Mediterranean Dragon service, crossed Suez on 31 July and Bab el Mandeb Strait on 3 August;
the 9,408 teu MSC Giulia, on a China-Mediterranean positioning trip, transited Suez on 21 July and Bab el Mandeb Strait on 4 August, after stopping at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port;
the 24,346 teu MSC Irina, on MSC’s China-Mediterranean Jade service, made a Suez passage on 4 August and passed through the Bab el Mandeb Strait on 8 August;
the 15,413 teu MSC Annabella, on MSC’s China-North Europe Britannia service, crossed Suez on 4 August and the Bab el Mandeb Strait on 11 August, after stopping at King Abdullah Port;
the 19,224 teu MSC Oliver, on MSC’s China-Mediterranean Tiger service, passed through Suez on 10 August and Bab el Mandeb Strait on 13 August; and
the 15,576 teu MSC NapoIi, on the China-North Europe Lion service, transited Suez on 12 August and the Bab el Mandeb Strait on Saturday.
Linerlytica adds that all the Bab el Mandeb Strait crossings were “dark” transits, meaning the ships had switched off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders to hide their location, names, and movement, minimising the risk of Houthi attacks.
Worsening port congestion in China is encouraging mainline operators to speed-up Asia-Europe sailing times and close one eye to the Houthi threat, as stormy weather has seen vessel waiting times top 12 days. Maersk, CMA CGM and Cosco have all resumed Red Sea transits, or are planning to do so.
Typhoons Bavi, Noul, and Dolphin have made landfall in eastern and southern China over the past month, affecting operations in Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Yantian, and Shekou, among other ports.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait crossings coincide with downward pressure on Asia-Europe freight rates, evidenced by shipping lines trimming their expectations for a peak season surcharge in September.
On Friday, the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index showed the Shanghai-North Europe rate corrected by about 3% from 7 August, to $4,811 per 40ft. However, Linerlytica noted that some shipping lines were already quoting lower rates.
Linerlytica said: “Although some carriers are aiming for a modest rate hike in September of around $500 per 40ft, the market momentum remains negative with EC2609 (September contracts) futures currently trading at a 30% discount to current SCFIS rates.”