Determined to normalize global trade without risking falling victim to Iranian-backed rebels in the Red Sea, shipowners are asking for armed security teams to be allowed on board.
Significant trade flows carrying goods and energy from the Gulf and East to Europe and the U.S. East Coast have been disrupted for months after repeated attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militias on cargo ships sailing through the Red Sea. It’s confusing all the time. Hundreds of voyages have been affected, with many ships forced to detour around the Horn of Africa, resulting in weeks and millions of dollars in additional costs for each voyage, but some shipping companies is considering how quickly the Red Sea shortcut can be reopened. .
A group of Dutch shipowners has approached the Ministry of Defense in Amsterdam for permission to put armed teams on board their flagged cargo ships. Mercenaries are of little use in the case of missile attacks, which have been numerous since the Houthis joined their allies in Gaza in launching attacks on global trade, but shipowners have warned shipowners against pirate attacks. In case you want mercenaries. terrorist group.
For Western countries dependent on imports, costs will rise as long as the Houthis continue to close the Red Sea. https://t.co/jaKab0GdSJ
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 21, 2023
That boarding raids are part of the Houthi modus operandi became dramatically clear late last year when the large car carrier Galaxy Leader was seized by Houthi special forces. The ship, its crew and valuable cargo remain the property of the Houthis, who have allowed curious members of the public to board the ship to enjoy their new “tourist attraction”.
The Royal Society of Dutch Shipowners has issued a statement on the assumption that naval groups operating to protect commercial ships from Houthi missiles and drones will soon succeed in a combination of shootdowns and range attacks in Yemen. tried to assemble a team to protect commercial ships from Houthi missiles and drones. Dutch broadcaster Netherlands Omrop Stichting (NOS) reported an attack on a Dutch ship by fighter jets on board a boat.
A spokesperson for the group told NOS: “We really want to be able to sail competitively, but not at all costs… The safety of our personnel is always our top priority.” She continued, referring to the “umbrellas” provided by militaries such as the US Navy, Royal Navy and Indian Navy that protect against missiles and drones. We would like to further strengthen it so that it can have security guards on board and sail at the same time as competitors. ”
Bringing armed teams on board is reminiscent of many shipowners’ reactions to the Somali piracy crisis at the beginning of this century. At the time, numerous ships passing through the Gulf of Aden were attacked by gangs using high-speed boats, usually armed with Soviet-made weapons. such as the AK-47 platform and rocket-propelled grenades. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization has announced new guidelines for civilian armed security in response to the Somali pirate attack, noting that “the transportation of firearms on commercial ships is a complex legal issue.”
Progress against inflation could be undermined by Houthi attack on cargo shiphttps://t.co/3IU9rHzGBz
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 26, 2023
The document states that this position has evolved over 30 years from a blanket position on firearms on civilian vessels in the 1990s, to a more nuanced position by 2015, and that “the deployment of armed security personnel on vessels is It is tacitly recognized as a flag state practice.” ”.
The Dutch government did not directly respond to the shipowners’ request in public today, saying only that missiles and drones remain a threat in the Red Sea, but that civilian ships should stay away.
The delays and increased costs caused by the closure of the Red Sea could have serious ramifications for Western economies. Tesla’s giant factory was forced to close last month due to a shortage of imported parts due to shipment delays caused by the Houthis. There has been intense debate over the threat that rising costs will undermine Western governments’ efforts to curb inflation.
