Image Credits : Reuters
In a move responding to heightened security risks, Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced the suspension of all container shipments through the Red Sea until further notice. The decision follows a near-miss incident involving the Maersk Gibraltar and a subsequent attack on another container vessel in the region.
In an official announcement on Friday, 15th December Maersk communicated the temporary halt, indicating that, following the near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar the previous day and another attack on a container vessel on the same day, instructions had been issued for all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pause their journey until further notice.
The incident involving Maersk Gibraltar occurred on Thursday when the vessel, en route from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was reportedly targeted by a missile. Maersk assured that the crew and vessel remained safe despite the unsettling encounter.
Addressing a claim made by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, Maersk firmly denied that one of its vessels sailing toward Israel had been struck. The Houthi militia had asserted that they conducted a military operation, specifically targeting a Maersk container vessel with a drone. However, Maersk, in response, stated, “The vessel was not hit,” emphasizing that there was no evidence to support the Houthi claim.
Expressing deep concern over the escalating security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Maersk highlighted the alarming nature of recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area. The company underscored the substantial threat these incidents pose to the safety and security of seafarers navigating these crucial maritime routes.
The decision to temporarily halt Red Sea shipments reflects Maersk’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of its vessels and crews amid a volatile security landscape. The southern Red Sea has been a hotspot for maritime incidents, with the Bab al-Mandab Strait serving as a critical chokepoint for global shipping.