The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Thursday the successful transit of the French mega container ship CMA CGM NOTRE DAME, one of the world's largest container vessels powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), on its maiden voyage through the canal.

The vessel crossed the waterway as part of the southbound convoy while sailing from Singapore to France, according to SCA Chairman Osama Rabie.

Operated by the French shipping group CMA CGM, the ship measures 399.9 metres in length, 61.3 metres in width, and has a draught of 16.5 metres. With a gross tonnage of 245,000 tons, it can carry up to 24,212 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Rabie described the vessel as the most advanced ship ever to sail under the French flag, noting that it is powered by LNG and equipped with advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

The ship has been specifically designed for long-haul intercontinental voyages and operates on the FAL3 service route linking the Far East with Northwest Europe.

To ensure the vessel's safe passage, the SCA assigned a team of senior pilots and provided the necessary navigational support, including escort tugboats, in line with the authority's procedures for ships transiting the canal for the first time.

As part of the customary protocol for maiden transits, Rabie delegated senior canal pilots Abdel Rahman Shaheen, Abdullah Gad, and Nader Nagi to board the vessel, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the ship's captain.

Rabie said the successful transit underscores the Suez Canal's readiness to accommodate the largest and most technologically advanced vessels in the global container fleet.

He stressed that the canal's strategic advantages continue to support global supply chains and provide economic efficiencies, reinforcing its position as the preferred and most sustainable maritime route for trade between East and West.

The SCA chief added that the authority is continuing to enhance its services by upgrading maritime operations and introducing new navigational services to meet customer needs and ensure the highest standards of safety for large vessels.