Oil Tanker Chrysalis Transits Suez Canal Safely, A Year After Red Sea Attack

The Suez Canal witnessed the transit of the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Chrysalis this week, marking its first journey through the canal since it was attacked by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea last July. It travelled northwards through the Suez Canal, heading to Sidi Kerir Port in Alexandria, Egypt.

The tanker is 249 meters long, 44 meters wide, and has a total tonnage of 61,341 tons. This is the vessel’s first transit through the canal since that attack.

The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Admiral Ossama Rabiee, stated that the return of Chrysalis to the Suez Canal sends a strong message of reassurance. He pointed out that this is a positive development toward the return of stability to the Red Sea region.

He also said that the return of vessels to transit the lack of a sustainable alternative, given the high costs of rerouting ships via the Cape of Good Hope and the absence of necessary navigation services.

قناة السويس تشهد عبور ناقلة البترول CHRYSALIS في رحلتها الأولى منذ يوليو الماضي

الرحلة هي العبور الأول منذ تعرض الناقلة للهجوم في البحر الأحمر في يوليو الماضي

الفريق أسامة ربيع:”عودة الناقلة للعبور من قناة السويس رسالة طمأنة قوية على التطورات الإيجابية لبدء عودة الاستقرار… pic.twitter.com/qlME70kNTG

— هيئة قناة السويس Suez Canal Authority (@SuezAuthorityEG) February 3, 2025

Rabiee further explained that using the Cape of Good Hope route would increase fuel consumption and carbon emissions due to longer travel distances, which also makes it an environmentally risky option.

The Suez Canal, with its shorter and safer route, will remain the preferred choice for shipping lines that are looking to return to the Red Sea region now that it’s seeing more stability.

The Houthi militia, aligned with Iran, had carried out over 100 attacks on ships since November 2023, including sinking two vessels. These attacks forced shipping companies to reroute their vessels around southern Africa to avoid potential risks in the Red Sea.

However, on January 20, the Houthis announced that they would limit their attacks to vessels linked to Israel after the Gaza ceasefire, which has been a relief for many shipping companies.

The safe passage of the Chrysalis through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal has brought hope to shipping companies, who have been anxiously waiting for confirmation that it is once again safe to navigate through the region.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt mentioned in December that the disruption of the Suez Canal in 2024 had cost Egypt about $7 billion in revenue losses.

References: Suez Canal, Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News