A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), the Danish shipping giant, has announced a temporary suspension of all container shipments through the Red Sea in response to heightened security risks, following recent incidents in the region.
In a statement issued on Friday, a Maersk spokesperson revealed, “After the recent near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar and a subsequent attack on another container vessel, all Maersk ships destined for the Bab al-Mandab Strait area are instructed to halt their journeys until further notice.”
On Thursday, Maersk reported that its vessel, Maersk Gibraltar, narrowly escaped a missile attack while en route from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with no harm to the crew or the vessel. Responding to a claim by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Friday, Maersk firmly stated, “The vessel was not hit.”
Expressing deep concern about the heightened security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Maersk emphasized the alarming nature of recent attacks on commercial vessels, emphasizing the significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers.
The shipping company clarified that, for now, ships will not be rerouted around Africa. The decision to pause container traffic through the Red Sea underscores Maersk’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of its crew and vessels amidst the escalating security challenges in the region.
