Shipping giant Maersk again pauses sailings through Red Sea after another attack on vessel

Maersk said on Christmas Eve it would resume sailings through the Red Sea. However, attacks have continued. 

Iranian-backed Houthi militants attacked a Maersk container vessel with missiles and small boats, prompting the shipping giant to pause all sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours, Maersk has said.

The crew of the Maersk Hangzhou was safe and there was no indication of fire onboard, which was fully manoeuvrable and continued its journey north to Port Suez, Maersk said. The Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou with capacity to carry 14,000 containers was en route from Singapore.

The attack was the latest by Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea to show their support for Hamas which is fighting Israel in Gaza.

The attacks have disrupted world trade, with major shipping companies taking the longer and costlier route around the Africa’s Cape of Good Hope rather than through the Suez Canal. The Red Sea is the entry point for ships using the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of global trade and vital for the movement of goods between Asia and Europe.

The US launched an operation on December 19, saying more than 20 countries had agreed to participate in the efforts to safeguard ships in Red Sea waters near Yemen.

In response, Maersk said on Christmas Eve it would resume sailings through the Red Sea. However, attacks have continued and US allies have proven reluctant to commit to the coalition, with nearly half not declaring their presence publicly.

Maersk, one of the world’s major cargo shippers, said on Sunday it would delay all transits through the area for 48 hours, after the Maersk Hangzhou was struck by a missile at around 17.30 GMT on Saturday, southwest of Al Hodeidah, Yemen.

A US warship shot down another two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, according to the US.

Yesterday afternoon, the same ship was attacked by Houthi militants in four small boats. An attempt by the attackers to board the vessel was averted after its security team and helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, returned fire, according to Maersk and the US.

• Reuters