The 17,859-TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is poised to transit the Suez Canal, potentially becoming the first alliance-operated Asia-Europe vessel to re-enter the Red Sea route since early 2024, reports London's Lloyd's List.

The Maltese flagged ship approaching Alexandria after departing Southampton. Its AIS destination is listed as Port Klang, Malaysia, with arrival expected on November 15.

The ship operates on the NEU4 service of the Ocean Alliance, which includes CMA CGM, Cosco Shipping and Evergreen. On its westbound leg, the vessel sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, a route commonly used since the Red Sea crisis began.

The move may signal cautious testing of Red Sea transits by ultra large boxships, which have largely avoided the region due to Houthi attacks on merchant shipping. CMA CGM has maintained limited sailings under French naval escort.

Lloyd's List Intelligence data show containership traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has increased slightly in 2025 but remains far below pre-crisis levels. For ships above 14,000-TEU, only 13 transits by six vessels were recorded in the first nine months, all operated by CMA CGM on Asia-Mediterranean routes.