ONE Re-enters Red Sea Trade via Strategic Slot Charter with RCL and Partners
Ocean Network Express joins a collaborative Red Sea China service, enhancing links between Chinese ports and key Red Sea gateways
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced its return to Red Sea operations through a slot charter agreement with Regional Container Lines (RCL) and other partners as part of a newly established Red-Sea China Service.
The move comes as global carriers cautiously re-engage the route amid signs of reduced Houthi attacks on shipping and renewed demand for direct East-West connections.
Under the fortnightly service, ONE will take slots on RCL’s rotation, which connects major Chinese export hubs — including Shanghai, Qingdao, Nansha and Shekou — with strategic ports in the Red Sea region such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Sokhna in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan.
The rotation, operated by 3,000-TEU vessels, is designed to offer reliable capacity without transiting the Suez Canal, reflecting flexibility in network planning and risk management in the wake of previous security disruptions.
The return to Red Sea operations follows a broader initiative led by RCL, Global Feeder Shipping and TS Lines to launch a Far East-Red Sea corridor that addresses strong flows of consumer goods, machinery and construction materials into Middle Eastern markets.
Evergreen Marine has also joined the effort through its own slot arrangements on the service, further widening cooperative capacity on the lane.
Industry observers note that the route’s reactivation aligns with evolving security conditions and growing commercial demand, even as major global lines remain measured in restoring full Suez transits pending long-term assurances of safety for crews and vessels.
The Red-Sea China Service’s eight-week rotation aims to balance continuity of trade with prudent operational risk, offering shippers an alternative connection that responds to market needs while leveraging regional partnerships.
For ONE, the return under a slot charter model underscores a strategic approach to market engagement and capacity optimisation.
By partnering with RCL and others, the carrier can extend its service coverage efficiently while accommodating shifting trade patterns in a complex geopolitical environment.
The service’s launch represents a phased but meaningful step back into a vital corridor for Asia-Middle East maritime commerce.
The move comes as global carriers cautiously re-engage the route amid signs of reduced Houthi attacks on shipping and renewed demand for direct East-West connections.
Under the fortnightly service, ONE will take slots on RCL’s rotation, which connects major Chinese export hubs — including Shanghai, Qingdao, Nansha and Shekou — with strategic ports in the Red Sea region such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Sokhna in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan.
The rotation, operated by 3,000-TEU vessels, is designed to offer reliable capacity without transiting the Suez Canal, reflecting flexibility in network planning and risk management in the wake of previous security disruptions.
The return to Red Sea operations follows a broader initiative led by RCL, Global Feeder Shipping and TS Lines to launch a Far East-Red Sea corridor that addresses strong flows of consumer goods, machinery and construction materials into Middle Eastern markets.
Evergreen Marine has also joined the effort through its own slot arrangements on the service, further widening cooperative capacity on the lane.
Industry observers note that the route’s reactivation aligns with evolving security conditions and growing commercial demand, even as major global lines remain measured in restoring full Suez transits pending long-term assurances of safety for crews and vessels.
The Red-Sea China Service’s eight-week rotation aims to balance continuity of trade with prudent operational risk, offering shippers an alternative connection that responds to market needs while leveraging regional partnerships.
For ONE, the return under a slot charter model underscores a strategic approach to market engagement and capacity optimisation.
By partnering with RCL and others, the carrier can extend its service coverage efficiently while accommodating shifting trade patterns in a complex geopolitical environment.
The service’s launch represents a phased but meaningful step back into a vital corridor for Asia-Middle East maritime commerce.