2023-12-24 21:17:51
The Danish shipping giant Maersk is considering using the route once more soon in view of the measures announced to secure shipping routes in the Red Sea. Recently, several shipping companies declared that they would no longer use the sea route because of the attacks on merchant ships by Houthi rebels in Yemen, but would instead take thousands of kilometers of detours.
Maersk received confirmation on Sunday that the multinational security initiative OPG is now taking effect, the company said. The OPG should enable maritime trade through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In addition, the Suez Canal should be used once more as a gateway between Asia and Europe. Maersk is now preparing to allow ships to transit through the Red Sea once more, both to the east and to the west. Depending on how the security situation develops, shipping traffic might also be rerouted once more.
The US announced on Tuesday that it would launch a multinational initiative to protect trade in the Red Sea from the Iran-backed Houthis. The Houthis recently fired drones and rockets at ships and described this as a response to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Maersk and other shipping companies, such as the German Hapag Lloyd, then announced that they would reroute ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Surcharges per container transport were announced in order to cover the additional costs associated with a longer journey.
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