In response to a series of heightened assaults on vessels, two major shipping giants have taken the proactive step of suspending all voyages through the Red Sea.
Following a close call involving its vessel, Maersk Gibraltar, the Danish maritime heavyweight Maersk announced a temporary cessation of all container shipments until further notice.
Meanwhile, German firm Hapag-Lloyd said it was also halting sailings until at least Monday after one of its ships was targeted on Friday. A spokesperson added: “Then we will decide for the period thereafter.”
It comes following a string of attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Bab al Mandeb Strait, at the southern end of the Red Sea.
The group has vowed to target vessels which it believes are heading to and from Israel, in an attempt to put pressure on the country to stop bombing the Gaza Strip amid its war with Hamas.
The attacks have raised fears that global supply chains could be severely disrupted if they continue.
The narrow, busy waterway is a key maritime trade route for ships heading to and from the Suez Canal.
At least two cargo ships were hit in the area on Friday, with the Houthis again claiming responsibility.
The MSC Palatium III was struck by a missile, with officials saying it was unclear if anyone had been hurt.
Earlier in the day, a ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd, the Al Jasrah, was hit by an unidentified projectile.
The strike reportedly started a fire on board and caused one container to fall off into the sea.
A spokesperson for the company said no members of the crew had been hurt.
Houthis vow to ‘prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports’
Houthis say they will continue to threaten shipping until Israel listens to their demands.
Rebel spokesperson Brigadier Yahya Saree said: “The Yemeni armed forces confirm they will continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports from navigating in the [Red Sea] until they bring in the food and medicine that our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip need.”
A spokesperson for Maersk said: “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 al Mandeb Strait to pause their journey until further notice.”
The Norwegian-owned MT Strinda tanker encountered a fire earlier this week following a missile strike off Yemen’s coast. Shipping firm Mowinckel initially revealed the vessel’s cargo as biofuel en route from Malaysia to Italy, but later hinted at a tentative scheduled stop at Israel’s Ashdod port.
Simultaneously, the US Navy reported downing a suspected Houthi drone aimed at one of its warships. Meanwhile, the commercial vessel Ardmore Encounter faced small boat attacks followed by two missile strikes.
Adding to the escalating tensions, in November, the Houthis seized a cargo ship allegedly associated with Israel in the Red Sea. The ship remains under their control near the port city of Hodeida.
Yemen’s control is divided between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia, with additional backing from the British military. The nation has been embroiled in a severe civil conflict for several years, although a fragile ceasefire currently lingers.
Over the past weekend, Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, urged Western allies to take stronger action against the ongoing attacks. Hanegbi cautioned that if the threats persisted, Israel would take action to eliminate the blockade imposed by these attacks.