Container ships from shipping giant Maersk will no longer sail through the Red Sea indefinitely after several attacks on merchant ships. After initially suspending all journeys through the affected area for 48 hours from Sunday to Tuesday, the Danish shipping company has decided to suspend all freight traffic by sea and the Gulf of Aden until further notice. The company announced this on Tuesday. In cases where it makes the most sense for customers, ships would be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope, at the southernmost tip of Africa.
Several merchant ships have been attacked in the Red Sea in recent weeks. On Saturday evening, the Maersk ship “Maersk Hangzhou” was also struck by an object after passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. According to Maersk, the ship was initially able to continue on its course, but later four boats approached the ship, opened fire and tried to board the cargo ship. The attack was successfully repelled with the help of a military helicopter and the ship’s security team.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly attacked Israel using drones and missiles, among other weapons. They also attack ships in the Red Sea to prevent them from sailing to Israel. Several major shipping companies are therefore increasingly avoiding the route via the sea and the Suez Canal. The Red Sea is considered one of the most important shipping lanes for world trade as it connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal in Egypt. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
