Copenhagen, Denmark: Maersk has suspended all its container shipping through the Red Sea following missile and drone attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The group has vowed to target vessels in an attempt to pressure Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip.
The Danish firm said it was making the move after a “near-miss” involving its Maersk Gibraltar ship on Thursday, followed by another attack on Friday.
Maersk said its container ships would detour around Africa instead. “Following the near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar yesterday and yet another attack on a container vessel today, we have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab el Mandeb Strait to pause their journey until further notice,” a Maersk spokesperson said.
Update: Friday 15 December 23:00 hours:
German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd is pausing sailings of its vessels in the Red Sea until Monday.The move follows the decision by Danish shipping company Maersk on Thursday that it was suspending sailings through the key Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The announcements come after attacks from Houthi-controlled Yemen hit two Liberian-flagged ships earlier on Friday.
Update 2: Saturday 16 December 23:00 hours
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is diverting its ships from the Red Sea because of an increased threat of attacks. French company CMA CGM took a similar step a day after Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd suspended Red Sea journeys. The decision comes after attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
