Danish shipping giant Maersk on Wednesday suspended U.S.-flagged shipments through the Red Sea following recent missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists.
The U.S. Navy intercepted a Houthi missile, but two Maersk ships still reversed course due to safety concerns, and the company will no longer attempt to cross the Red Sea with its ships flying the U.S. flag. said.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Said The Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at the container ship MV, which is owned and operated under the U.S. flag. maersk detroit” The ship was passing through the Gulf of Aden at around 2pm local time on Wednesday.
“One missile landed in the sea. The other two missiles were successfully engaged and shot down by the USS. Gravely (DDG 107). There were no reported injuries or damage to the vessel,” Centcom said.
USS Gravely is Early Burke-class guided missile destroyer.of Gravely have intercepted Houthi missiles were fired several times.
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely in the Baltic Sea, May 16, 2022 (MC3 Taylor Parker/U.S. Navy)
Maersk said: statement Use the MV as media maersk detroit Another US-flagged ship, MV Maersk Chesapeake, The crew was passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait under U.S. Navy escort when they witnessed an explosion nearby. The Navy ordered both Maersk ships to reverse course and withdraw from the Channel.
Maersk said its companion on a US Navy ship “intercepted multiple projectiles” and that the ship and crew were “safe and unharmed.”
A report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) suggested that a Houthi missile exploded within 100 meters of one of the merchant ships on Wednesday.
“The U.S. Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them to the Gulf of Aden,” the company said in a statement.As of Thursday morning, vessel tracking data showed M.V. Maersk Chesapeake had I returned to Oman.
“Given the growing risk, MLL [Maersk Line Limited] We are suspending shipping in this area until further notice,” the company said. “The safety of our crew is paramount.”
“We are developing network contingencies and will keep you informed as they become available,” MLL told customers.
maersk Said Both ships were transporting cargo for U.S. government agencies. include Department of Defense, Department of State, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saleh said the missiles fired by Houthi forces during the “clash,” which lasted more than two hours, were aimed at a U.S. warship and ended with a direct hit on a U.S. naval vessel, while two civilian ships were killed. He claimed he was forced to flee the area.
“Some of our ballistic missiles nevertheless hit their targets.” [the] “It was an attempt by a warship to intercept the ship,” Saleh said, a claim that U.S. officials denied.
shipping analyst Said Reuters on Wednesday reported that airlines are not feeling reassured by the Biden administration's “Operation Prosperity Guardian” and that a “feeling of vulnerability” is likely to increase following Wednesday's incident. .
Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the International Transport Workers' Union, said: “The feedback from captains is certainly about the container trade. Captains are considering bypassing the cape. are much happier.”
