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Maersk resumes Suez Canal service for MECL

Maersk, the shipping group, will resume its MECL service via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to connect?the Middle East with India as well as the United States. The Danish company announced on Thursday that it will resume sailings via the Red Sea and Suez Canal for its MECL service, connecting?the Middle East and India with the?U.S.

Maersk announced in a press release that it had decided to return all MECL service sailings to the trans Suez route. The company added that this was part of its step-by-step approach to fleet management.

Shipping companies are considering a return to Asia-Europe's critical trade corridor after rerouting their vessels around Africa for more than two years following Yemeni Houthi Rebels' attacks against ships in the Red Sea, which they claimed was "a show of solidarity" with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Maersk said Monday that one of its ships had tested the route, as a Gaza ceasefire raised hopes for normal shipping.

Changes to the MECL service will be implemented with a sailing leaving Oman's Salalah port on January 26.

Clarksons Research states that the Suez Canal was the fastest way to connect?Europe with Asia. Prior to the Houthi attack, the Suez Canal accounted for about 10% of the global seaborne trade.

The Red Sea traffic has been re-energised by the ceasefire that has existed in Gaza since October of last year.

Both sides accuse each other of violations. Over 440 Palestinians, three Israeli soldiers and more than 440 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip during the past three months.

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Since the truce came into effect. (Reporting and editing by Gwladys Faouche, Terje Solsvik)

(source: Reuters)