With the Gaza ceasefire holding and the Houthis no longer threatening commercial shipping, Maersk has carried out a second trial transit through the Red Sea after operations were disrupted for close to two years by security risks.

The U.S.-flagged Maersk Denver completed a successful passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on 11–12 January, following Maersk Sebarok on 18–19 December 2025. Both vessels are assigned to the MECL service linking India and the Middle East with the US East Coast, a route that has been running via the Cape of Good Hope.

Voyage tracking referenced in the report suggested the ship appeared to switch off AIS for the transit, with its last position broadcast on 10 January after departing Salalah in Oman, based on PurpleTrac data from Pole Star Global.

In a customer advisory, Maersk said safety remained the overriding priority and that protective measures were applied during the passage, with customers carrying cargo on the vessel contacted directly. The carrier added it would keep a phased approach toward navigation along the East–West corridor via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea if security thresholds continue to be met, while noting no additional transits are scheduled at this time.

Across the liner sector, tentative returns have begun, but a broad shift back from Cape diversions has not yet taken hold. CMA CGM was cited as the only line to confirm a full loop via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, using INDAMEX on both fronthaul and backhaul voyages and reducing the service rotation by two weeks.