The OOCL Portugal ship (with a capacity of 225,000 tons) crossed the Suez Canal towards China on September 16, 2026. This ship departed from Belgium and the Mediterranean Sea and is the first vessel from the OOCL group to return to this route. According to a statement from Suez Canal officials, this crossing is also considered the first passage of a ship under the control of COSCO since the tensions in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb.
Details of the OOCL Portugal Ship's Crossing
The OOCL Portugal ship, as one of the 39 vessels present in the transit convoy, moved from north towards the Red Sea. This comes as the Suez Canal registered 45 ships the day before, on September 15. According to available information, other ships from MSC Mediterranean Shipping and CMA CGM were also part of this convoy. Suez Canal officials emphasized that these companies, along with Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, have resumed their services to this route.
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Impacts on Maritime Services and Regional Security
The return of ships to the Suez Canal indicates an improvement in security conditions in the region; however, the existing tensions in the Red Sea and the controls imposed by the Houthis still pose challenges for navigation. The Houthis captured the port of Mocha and an island in the Red Sea last week to gain more control over the Bab el-Mandeb region. Nevertheless, they have stated that they have only banned ships associated with Saudi Arabia.
Suez Canal officials also noted an increase in traffic volume in the canal. In the first eight months of 2026, traffic volume exceeded 72 million tons, reflecting a 54% increase compared to 46.7 million tons during the same period in 2025. These statistics clearly indicate a return to pre-war levels and an increase in confidence in maritime security in the region.
The Suez Canal faced a 3.4% decrease in ship passage statistics in 2025, dropping to 12,758 ships. However, the increase in traffic this year and the return of maritime services to this route demonstrate the ongoing efforts of Suez Canal officials to encourage ships to return to their previous routes.
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