Maersk suspends shipping through Red Sea strait after attacks from Houthi rebels, opts for long detour
Maersk, which is one of the world's largest shipping companies, has said that it is suspending shipping through Red Sea strait following attacks byYemeni rebelson merchant ships.
"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-Mandab Strait to pause their journey until further notice," the company said in a statement as per AFP.
Reuters quoted a Maersk spokesperson saying that the company will ask the ships to take a detour around Africa.
"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-Mandab Strait to pause their journey until further notice," the company said as reported by Reuters.
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On Thursday, Maersk said that Maersk Gibraltar, one of its ships was targeted by a missile when it was travelling from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company said that the crew and vessel were safe.
Earlier on Friday, Maersk denied claim from Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels that they had struck a ship that was sailing towards Israel.
The Houthisclaimed without presenting evidence that they had attacked the container vessel with a drone.
"The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers," read thestatement byMaersk
Maersk's concerns were echoed byGerman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock who said earlier on Friday that the attcaks by Houthi rebels were not only threatening Israel but were also a threat to international shipping.
"These attacks endanger not only Israel's security -- these attacks threaten international maritime shipping and the freedom of trade routes," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a press conference in Berlin. Visiting Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib was al present at the media briefing.
(With inputs from agencies)