Ask Ahab: August 2026

Dear Ahab:

Now that the Port of Virginia has completed its dredging project, making it the deepest port on the U.S. East Coast and capable of accommodating Ultra Large Container Vessels, does that make it the best East Coast port for importing my cargo?

– Deeply Curious

Dear Deeply Curious:

The Port of Virginia certainly deserves a tip of the captain's hat with its newly completed dredging project that can now accommodate some of the world's largest container vessels with ease. That is a major advantage, particularly as carriers continue deploying bigger ships on transatlantic and East Coast services.

But being the deepest port does not automatically it is the best. The right port depends on where your cargo is headed, available rail and trucking options, carrier schedules, warehouse capacity, transit times, and overall costs. For some importers, Virginia may be the ideal gateway. For others, ports such as New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston, or even Halifax may offer a better fit based on their supply chain needs.

Bottom line, the best port is the one that gets your cargo to market most efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively. In logistics, bigger is impressive, but smarter is better.

Dear Ahab:

Is it true that carriers are beginning to transit through the Suez Canal again instead of taking the longer but more secure route around the Cape of Good Hope?

– Ocean Optimist

Dear Ocean Optimist:

Recently, some carriers, most notably the Gemini Alliance (Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd), had begun a limited return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

Unfortunately, following the Houthis' announcement of a blockade targeting Saudi Arabian ports and their subsequent attacks on Saudi-linked vessels, a broad and sustained return to the Red Sea and Suez Canal does not appear likely anytime soon.

As a result, shippers should continue planning for longer transit times and expect carriers to rely on Vasco da Gama's tried-and-true centuries-old route around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.