Shipping giant Maersk warned on Friday that the diversion of cargo ships due to Houthi military activity in the Red Sea is likely to cause disruption to international shipping and supply lines.
Maersk and other major shippers began diverting ships south of the Red Sea this week after Yemen's Houthi rebels began firing on civilian and military vessels in the region, including U.S. warships.
The detour will avoid the Suez Canal and instead bypass South Africa's Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe, adding more than a week of time to the voyage. Maersk said the decision was due to “significantly increasing” security risks in the Red Sea.
“We understand that this may have an impact on your logistics operations, but all decisions are carefully considered and are ultimately about the safety of our vessels, crew and your cargo. Rest assured that our top priority is ours,” Maersk said in a statement. Statement to customers Friday.
“By suspending sailings through the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden, we hope to bring more stability and predictability to our customers despite delays associated with route changes,” the company said.
The company said diversions would continue “for the foreseeable future.”
The Houthis attacked a Maersk ship in the Red Sea on Monday and attempted to board it, prompting Maersk to avoid the area.
Last month, the United States announced a multinational coalition operating in the region to thwart Houthi military activity at sea. Pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to take tougher action after a US Navy ship was also targeted.
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