- December 16, 2023
Houthi attacks push 2 shipping giants to pause Red Sea voyages – Times of India
Spiraling attacks on merchant ships by Houthi militants off the coast of Yemen have prompted widespread trade disruption with some of the world’s biggest vessel owners evaluating whether it’s safe to send crews through the Red Sea.
Two of the world’s largest container shipping lines said on Friday that they were pausing transits through the Red Sea after their vessels were attacked.Two oil tanker firms have now said they are insisting on a clause in charters that will allow them to send their ships aroundAfrica if they deem the waters off Yemen unsafe. The moves will pile pressure on the US to improve security along one of the most important trade corridors.
Houthi militants have been attacking more and more merchant ships in the Red Sea in response to the war in Gaza. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the world’s second-largest owner of container ships, said on Friday that it has instructed its vessels heading for the southern entrance of the Red Sea to pause their voyages. Its vessel Maersk Gibraltar was attacked. Shortly after Maersk’s announcement, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd AG announced a halt until Monday, “then will decide for the period after.” Earlier on Friday, the Iran-backed Houthi militants said they attacked the MSC Alanya and MSC Palatium III with naval missiles. Maersk’s vessel, Maersk Gibraltar, was the target of an attack that missed on Thursday. Hapag-Lloyd also said one of its vessels, the Al Jasrah, was attacked on Friday.
Two of the world’s largest container shipping lines said on Friday that they were pausing transits through the Red Sea after their vessels were attacked.Two oil tanker firms have now said they are insisting on a clause in charters that will allow them to send their ships aroundAfrica if they deem the waters off Yemen unsafe. The moves will pile pressure on the US to improve security along one of the most important trade corridors.
Houthi militants have been attacking more and more merchant ships in the Red Sea in response to the war in Gaza. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the world’s second-largest owner of container ships, said on Friday that it has instructed its vessels heading for the southern entrance of the Red Sea to pause their voyages. Its vessel Maersk Gibraltar was attacked. Shortly after Maersk’s announcement, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd AG announced a halt until Monday, “then will decide for the period after.” Earlier on Friday, the Iran-backed Houthi militants said they attacked the MSC Alanya and MSC Palatium III with naval missiles. Maersk’s vessel, Maersk Gibraltar, was the target of an attack that missed on Thursday. Hapag-Lloyd also said one of its vessels, the Al Jasrah, was attacked on Friday.
