French shipping line CMA CGM Group has announced that it will attempt transits through the Red Sea after it previously suspended the route because of security concerns in the region.
The line made the announcement in an advisory note to customers last week in which it said it had “re-evaluated the situation in the Southern Area of the Red Sea and the evolving conditions allow us to resume transit on a case-by-case basis”.
CMA CGM said it was closely assessing the situation for each vessel before transit and that routing choices could, therefore, not be anticipated or communicated to customers.
“Otherwise, all other vessels are rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope,” the line said.
The decision comes after the French navy joined with the European Union, which is launching a defensive operation in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding region.
France has been operating a warship in the area since December and CMA CGM were previously transiting the region only under escort.
However, it later suspended all transits after a vessel it charters was targeted.
Denmark and Germany also now have warships operating in the region and Greece is sending a vessel after it was placed in charge of the operation in terms of an EU agreement.
CMA CGM was the last of the big container lines to withdraw from sailing through the Suez and is the first to return.
