SHIPPING giants are diverting their vessels from the Red Sea after a Singapore-flagged containerships was struck by a missile fired by Houthis from Yemen on Saturday.
To recall, Houthi rebels touted that it struck a vessel, which turned out to be the Maersk Hangjow container ship, while it was sailing through the Red Sea.
This is why two global shipping giants, Denmark’s A.P Moller-Maersk and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, decided to no longer allow their vessels to pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd halted its shipping in the Red Sea in December.
It also said that it would extend the travel pause until January 9.
Singapore-flagged vessel struck by Houthi missile
Meanwhile, Maersk halted all of its transits through the waterway for 48 hours recently, after its Singapore-flagged containerships, Maersk Hangjow, was struck by a Houthi missile fired from Yemen.
And now, Maersk announced that it will extend the pause to shipping in the area until further notice as it assesses the constantly evolving situation.
“An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and we will continue to pause all cargo movement through the area while we further assess the constantly evolving situation,” statement of Maersk.
Maersk had already halted shipping in the Red Sea in the middle of December of 2023, however, it resumed travel just last week after the United States and other countries launched the so-called operation prosperity guardian in the region.
The shipping giant said some of its vessels will be rerouted around the cape of good hope in South Africa.
More than 100 of its vessels will be diverted in the said area in the coming weeks.
Aside from Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd, shipping giants like Evergreen Line and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, have also stopped transporting cargo via the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks.
The Red Sea is a key route linking Europe and Asia.
It also facilitates around 12 percent of the global trade.
Experts say that the decision of shipping giants to halt their passage in the Red Sea is already disrupting global supply chains, driving up freight costs, and lengthening the time of deliveries.
To recall, Houthi rebels attacked the Red Sea as their way to show their support for Hamas following its October 7 attack on Israel.
