Mumbai, 03 Jan 2024 (Commoditiescontrol) Container shipping titan A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S announced an indefinite suspension of its vessel operations through the Red Sea, a crucial maritime trade route, following recent attacks on its ships.
The Copenhagen-based company, responding to escalating threats in the region, said in a website statement, “All transits through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden are paused until further notice.” This decision extends a previously announced two-day suspension as the company reevaluates its safety measures.
The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have targeted merchant ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel, in response to the conflict in Gaza. However, these links are increasingly seen as tenuous, leading many in the merchant fleet to avoid the area.
This move by Maersk, the world's second-largest container ship operator, follows a similar decision by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd AG. Both companies are now rerouting ships south of Africa, potentially affecting global freight rates due to longer transit times.
Maersk had resumed Red Sea transits only last year but reversed course after the Maersk Hangzhou was nearly boarded by Houthi rebels on New Year's Eve. This incident followed a December attack on the Maersk Gibraltar. The US-led Prosperity Guardian mission intervened in the latest attack, preventing a successful boarding.
Maersk's latest statement emphasized the ongoing risk assessment and commitment to rerouting ships when necessary for customer service. The company's home country, Denmark, plans to join the US mission by deploying a warship to the region.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-9820130172)
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