Shipping firm Maersk says that it’s preparing to allow vessels to resume sailing through the Red Sea, thanks to the start of a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Quick Read
- Maersk Resuming Red Sea Operations: Shipping giant Maersk is preparing to resume vessel operations through the Red Sea, following the initiation of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a U.S.-led multinational naval operation. This operation is designed to safeguard maritime commerce from Houthi rebel attacks.
- Impact of Houthi Attacks on Shipping: Houthi attacks have significantly disrupted shipping through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, a critical trade route for oil, natural gas, grain, and consumer goods. These disruptions have caused delays and increased costs in global trade.
- Details of Operation Prosperity Guardian: OPG aims to protect shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, enabling the resumption of trade through the Suez Canal. Maersk is coordinating to have its first vessels pass through the area as operationally feasible.
- Background of the Houthi Conflict: The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group in Yemen, took control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, leading to a war with a Saudi-led coalition. They have occasionally targeted ships in the region, with increased activity since the Israel-Hamas war began.
- Houthi Threats to Maritime Traffic: The Houthis have threatened to attack vessels associated with Israel, leading to broader targeting of ships from various countries, including container ships and oil tankers.
- Shipping Companies’ Alternative Routes: Due to the threat, major shipping companies like Maersk have been circumventing the Red Sea, opting for longer routes around Africa. This has led to extended voyage times and higher fuel and insurance costs.
- Recent Incidents Involving Houthi Attacks: The U.S. Central Command reported that a U.S. warship intercepted drones launched from Houthi-held territories, targeting commercial shipping. This included near-misses and hits on Norwegian and India-flagged tankers, marking continued aggression against maritime commerce.
The Associated Press has the story:
Shipping firm Maersk says it’s preparing for resumption of Red Sea voyages
Newslooks- FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)
Shipping firm Maersk says that it’s preparing to allow vessels to resume sailing through the Red Sea, thanks to the start of a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Houthi attacks have led to a major disruption of shipping through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, one of the most important arteries for trade in oil, natural gas, grain and consumer goods between Europe and Asia.
Maersk said in a statement Sunday that “we have received confirmation that the previously announced multi-national security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) has now been set up and deployed to allow maritime commerce to pass through the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden and once again return to using the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe. ”
The company said it was working on plans for the first vessels to make the journey “and for this to happen as soon as operationally possible.”
The Houthis are Iranian-backed rebels who seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, launching a grinding war against a Saudi-led coalition seeking to restore the government. The Houthis have sporadically targeted ships in the region, but the attacks have increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The rebels have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel. That has escalated to apparently any vessel, with container ships and oil tankers flagged to countries like Norway and Liberia being attacked or drawing missile fire.
Major shipping companies include Maersk have been avoiding the Red Sea and sending their ships around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. That added what analysts say could be a week to two weeks of voyages. The disruption also hiked fuel and insurance costs.
On Saturday, a U.S. warship shot down four incoming drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas, and a Norwegian-flagged chemicals and oil tanker reported a near miss of an attack drone, while an India-flagged tanker was hit with no injuries reported., the U.S. Central Command said Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. The incidents represented the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by the Houthis since Oct. 17.
