In response to recent attacks by Yemeni rebels on its merchant ships, shipping giant Maersk announced on Friday that it would divert all vessels around Africa, bypassing the Red Sea and Suez Canal for the “foreseeable future.” The Danish company cited the highly volatile situation in the region and emphasized the persistently high security risk.
In a statement, Maersk stated, “We have therefore decided that all Maersk vessels due to transit the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden will be diverted south around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.” This decision comes after the attack on the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, prompting the company to suspend passage on the route until further notice.
The Maersk Hangzhou, en route from Singapore to Port Suez in Egypt, reported being struck by a missile while transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Subsequently, four ships operated by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels engaged in an attempt to board the vessel, prompting a response from the U.S. military, which sank three of the rebel-operated ships.
The Red Sea, a crucial waterway linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, sees 12 percent of world trade passing through it, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). With the Suez Canal being a vital gateway for ships, the decision to divert vessels around Africa underscores the seriousness of the security concerns.
This marks the second time Maersk has suspended shipping through the strait, having done so in mid-December following previous Huthi rebel attacks. The company had initially planned to resume shipping on December 24 but suspended traffic again on December 31.
The Huthis have targeted vessels in the Red Sea shipping lane, claiming these actions in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the conflict with Israel. As the situation unfolds, global shipping companies are carefully assessing the security landscape in the region.
