Ocean Network Express

Shipping Arabia, October 27, 2026 – Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced plans to resume Suez Canal transits on its MD1 and MS2 container shipping services under the Premier Alliance, beginning with selected sailings in November 2026. The decision follows a review of regional security conditions and aims to reduce transit times between Asia and the Mediterranean.

In a customer advisory issued on October 22, ONE outlined revised port rotations for both services, confirming their planned return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal corridor. The changes will affect scheduled voyages linking major Asian container ports with destinations in Egypt, Türkiye and the wider Mediterranean.

The carrier said it will continue monitoring security developments in the Middle East and adjusting its operations when necessary. Crew safety, vessel security and the protection of customer cargo remain central to its routing decisions.

MD1 Service to Resume Suez Canal Route via Sokhna and Damietta

The MD1 service will introduce its revised rotation with the vessel YM Trust, scheduled to depart Ningbo, China, on November 10, 2026. The vessel is expected to arrive at Egypt’s Damietta Port on December 7.

Under the revised schedule, the service will connect several major Asian ports with Egypt and Türkiye through the Suez Canal.

The planned MD1 port rotation includes:

Ningbo – Shanghai – Shekou – Singapore – Sokhna – Suez Canal – Damietta – Istanbul – Izmit – Mersin – Damietta – Suez Canal – Singapore – Kaohsiung.

The inclusion of Sokhna and Damietta places two Egyptian ports on the revised Asia-Mediterranean service. Following its Mediterranean calls, the service will return through Damietta and the Suez Canal before continuing toward Asia.

The revised routing is intended to shorten transit times between Asia and the Mediterranean compared with the alternative routing.

MS2 Service to Connect Asia and Mediterranean Ports via Suez Canal

ONE also confirmed that its MS2 service will resume Suez Canal transits with the vessel ONE Synergy. The vessel is scheduled to depart Qingdao, China, on November 16, 2026, with an expected arrival at Piraeus, Greece, on December 28.

The revised MS2 rotation will connect a network of major Asian container ports with destinations in the Mediterranean. Its Asian calls include Qingdao, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou and Singapore.

After transiting the Suez Canal, the service will continue to Piraeus, Valencia, Barcelona, Genoa, La Spezia and Fos. The return voyage will pass through the Suez Canal toward Singapore before continuing to ports in Southeast Asia.

The routing change will restore the Suez Canal corridor to the specified MS2 sailings, supporting ONE’s objective of reducing transit times between the two regions.

ONE Maintains Flexible Routing Amid Regional Security Concerns

Although ONE has announced the return of both services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the carrier emphasized that its routing plans remain subject to security and operational conditions.

The company will continue assessing developments in the Middle East and may revise vessel routes if circumstances change. These assessments will prioritize the safety of crews, vessels and customer shipments.

ONE also confirmed that it will update sailing schedules and booking confirmations to reflect the revised service rotations. However, the carrier cautioned that service details may change without prior notice in response to evolving security or operational developments.

The planned November sailings therefore mark the next scheduled step in restoring Suez Canal transits for the MD1 and MS2 services, while ONE retains the flexibility to adjust operations as conditions require.

Source: Al Mal

Shipping Arabia, October 8, 2026 – Ocean Network Express (ONE) has marked the first deployment of its own direct service to Khor Fakkan Port in the UAE, following the maiden call of M/V Phoebe on the carrier’s FA1 service.

Teams from ONE West Asia Regional Headquarters and ONE UAE welcomed the vessel during its inaugural call at Khor Fakkan. According to ONE, the milestone reflects its efforts to adapt its network, expand coverage and maintain supply chain connectivity for customers in the UAE.

First ONE direct service to Khor Fakkan

The call by M/V Phoebe represents the first time ONE has deployed its own direct service into Khor Fakkan Port.

ONE said the deployment forms part of its efforts to maintain uninterrupted supply chain connections amid a complex and unpredictable global operating environment. The carrier also linked the development to its wider focus on adapting services and meeting customer requirements.

The vessel was operating on ONE’s FA1 service when it made the maiden call.

Coordination with Gulftainer at the port

During the visit, ONE representatives met with the vessel’s master and crew and also worked with terminal operator Gulftainer on port operations.

ONE said the on-the-ground coordination provided an opportunity to align on live operational activities at Khor Fakkan Port. The carrier said this type of cooperation helps optimize workflows and support high levels of reliability for the regional trade community.

The company also acknowledged the M/V Phoebe crew and the Gulftainer team for their role in the port call and operational cooperation.

Expanding ONE’s UAE connectivity

The first direct ONE service call at Khor Fakkan adds another connection to the carrier’s UAE operations.

ONE said maintaining reliable supply chain links remains a priority as it responds to changing operational conditions. The Khor Fakkan deployment demonstrates that approach through the introduction of a direct service call supported by coordination between ONE’s regional and UAE teams and the terminal operator.

Source: Ocean Network Express West Asia

Shipping Arabia, October 6, 2026 – Ocean Network Express (ONE) will launch a new weekly Poland Egypt Express service connecting Poland, Germany and Egypt, expanding the carrier’s coverage between the Baltic region, Northern Europe and Egypt. The new service, known as PEX, will also complement ONE’s existing Levant Express (LEX) service.

The Poland Egypt Express service will operate on a rotation covering Gdansk, Bremerhaven and Alexandria. Alexandria will be served on the southbound leg only, creating a direct southbound connection from the Baltic and Northern Europe to the Egyptian port.

ONE plans to begin the service in October 2026. The first sailing will be operated by Synergy Antwerp on voyage 642S, with the vessel scheduled to call at Gdansk between October 15 and 17.

According to ONE, the Poland Egypt Express service will provide additional capacity and greater routing flexibility across the company’s intra-Europe transport network. Together with the existing Levant Express, the new weekly loop will broaden ONE’s service offering between the Baltic, Northern Europe and Egypt.

Source: Al Mal

Shipping Arabia, September 22, 2026 – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) became the largest container carrier operating through Damietta Port in 2025, handling 29.3% of the port’s container traffic as transshipment remained a major component of carrier volumes.

According to the latest Damietta Port Authority statistics, MSC handled approximately 375,800 TEUs, with transshipment accounting for 71.7% of its traffic through the port. The carrier had handled around 210,300 TEUs in 2024.

Yang Ming ranked second, accounting for 18.5% of Damietta’s container activity with approximately 236,800 TEUs. Unlike several other major carriers, foreign trade imports and exports represented 51.3% of Yang Ming’s traffic through the port.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) followed with a 9.4% share and approximately 120,000 TEUs, of which 61.9% was transshipment cargo. ONE had handled around 261,300 TEUs in 2024, when it accounted for 18.4% of the port’s container traffic.

Hapag-Lloyd recorded a particularly sharp shift, handling approximately 65,900 TEUs, equivalent to 5.1% of Damietta’s container activity, with transshipment representing 71% of its volume. In 2024, the carrier had handled around 454,700 TEUs and accounted for 32.1% of the port’s container traffic.

Other carriers serving Damietta included COSCO, CMA CGM, RCL and China Shipping.

Overall, Damietta received 1,007 containership calls in 2025, compared with 1,020 in 2024. Containerized cargo declined 6% to around 13.4 million tonnes, while throughput fell 10% to approximately 1.42 million TEUs, from 1.58 million TEUs a year earlier.

The figures highlight the importance of transshipment to Damietta’s container business, while also showing a significant redistribution of volumes among the major global carriers using the Egyptian Mediterranean gateway.

Source: Almal News