Shipping Arabia, November 4, 2026 – Three Hapag-Lloyd Suez Canal services have resumed transiting the waterway, with additional Far East services expected to return in the coming period. The development emerged during discussions between the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and Hapag-Lloyd on strengthening cooperation in maritime operations, pilot training and investment opportunities in Egypt.
SCA Chairman Admiral Ossama Rabiee and Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen held the discussions via video conference. The meeting formed part of ongoing coordination between the two sides following the gradual resumption of Canal transits by several Hapag-Lloyd liner services.
Hapag-Lloyd Suez Canal Services Gradually Return
Hapag-Lloyd Chief Operating Officer Anders Boenaes confirmed that the company had already resumed transits through the Suez Canal on three liner services. He added that further services operating on the Far East trade route were expected to return in the coming period.
Habben Jansen welcomed the resumption of the company’s Canal transits and reaffirmed the waterway’s attractiveness as a shipping route. He emphasized that the Suez Canal would remain an attractive option whenever circumstances permit.
The Hapag-Lloyd CEO also expressed hope that favorable conditions would continue to prevail, paving the way for more services to resume operations through the Canal.
For his part, Admiral Rabiee stressed that the return of major shipping lines to the Suez Canal represents the optimal choice under current market conditions. He pointed particularly to rising fuel prices and the absence of alternative routes offering comparable sustainability.
The SCA Chairman expressed hope that all Hapag-Lloyd liner services would resume transiting the Canal in the coming period. He also reaffirmed the Authority’s readiness to provide transiting vessels with a comprehensive range of maritime and logistics services.
Maritime Pilot Training Cooperation at Damietta Port
Beyond the gradual restoration of Suez Canal transits, the discussions explored potential cooperation in maritime training and terminal operations.
A key area involved cooperation between the SCA Maritime Training and Simulation Academy and Damietta Alliance Container Terminals (DACT), also known as Tahia Misr 1, at Damietta Port.
The discussions focused particularly on opportunities for maritime pilot training. Hapag-Lloyd is a key investor in the Damietta terminal, providing a connection between the shipping line’s investment activities and the proposed training cooperation.
Admiral Rabiee highlighted the importance of direct engagement with Hapag-Lloyd’s senior management in developing new areas of collaboration. He said such engagement could open additional opportunities for joint coordination and the exchange of expertise.
The SCA Chairman also pointed to Hapag-Lloyd’s interest in expanding its investments and strengthening its presence in the Egyptian market.
Joint Working Group to Explore Investment Opportunities
Habben Jansen expressed Hapag-Lloyd’s willingness to deepen cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority beyond the resumption of vessel transits.
He proposed establishing a joint working group to examine potential investment opportunities and develop new proposals that serve the mutual interests of both organizations.
The proposed initiative would provide a framework for exploring areas of cooperation identified during the discussions, including opportunities linked to maritime services and investment.
Juan Pablo Richards, Hapag-Lloyd’s Senior Managing Director of Region South Europe, also reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through continued consultations on available investment opportunities.
Richards praised the Suez Canal Authority’s ability to navigate successive challenges while maintaining its comprehensive development strategy for the waterway and its maritime fleet.
Senior Executives Participate in Discussions
The video conference brought together senior representatives from Hapag-Lloyd and the Suez Canal Authority, reflecting the operational and investment-related subjects under discussion.
Hapag-Lloyd participants included Chief Operating Officer Anders Boenaes, Senior Managing Director of Region South Europe Juan Pablo Richards, and Hapag-Lloyd Egypt Chairman Marwan El-Sammak.
Representing the Suez Canal Authority alongside Admiral Rabiee were Dr. Fathy Abdel Bary, Director of the SCA Planning and Research Department, and Dr. Hossam Abdel Karim, Deputy Director of the SCA Planning Department.
The discussions highlighted two parallel areas of engagement between the organizations: the gradual return of Hapag-Lloyd liner services to the Suez Canal and the exploration of new cooperation opportunities in maritime training and investment.
While three services have already resumed transits, the two sides are seeking to build on their existing relationship through further operational coordination and consultations on potential investments in Egypt.
Source: Suez Canal Authority
