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Maersk and CMA CGM are resuming vessel transit through the Red Sea
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The easing of shipping disruptions has cut oil prices by around 1% on Dec 28
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CMA CGM said some of its vessels have made the transit through the Red Sea with plans for gradual increase in number of vessels transiting through the Suez Canal
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Mediterranean Shipping Co. will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez Canal via Cape Good Hope
Shipping lines Maersk and CMA CGM are resuming vessel transit through the Red Sea following the suspension of services due to increased attacks on commercial ships by Houthi rebels.
The world’s top shipping companies, including container giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, suspended sailings to Red Sea routes after Yemen’s Houthi militant group began targeting vessels going to or coming from Israel earlier this month, disrupting global trade. The rerouting meant extra shipping charges imposed by some carriers to cover longer voyages around Africa.
Tensions have somehow eased though following the establishment of the Operation Prosperity Guardian, a US-led military operation by a multinational coalition formed in December 2023 to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The attacks are in protest of Israel’s offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza.
The easing of shipping disruptions has also cut oil prices by around 1% on Dec 28.
Maersk on Dec 27 said several dozen container vessels are scheduled to sail via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in the coming days and weeks, a sign that global shipping firms are returning to the route.
Earlier on December 24, Maersk said it was preparing to allow for vessels to resume transit through the Red Sea both eastbound and westbound.
Maersk said it is working on plans for the first vessels to make the transit and for this to happen as soon as operationally possible.
Although security measures are in place to enable Red Sea transit for its vessels, the carrier said the overall risk in the area is not yet eliminated at this stage and will re-evaluate the situation and once again initiate diversion plans if it deems it necessary for the safety of its seafarers.
CMA CGM in a December 26 notice said some of its vessels have made the transit through the Red Sea and is “devising plans for the gradual increase in the number of vessels transiting through the Suez Canal.”
Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) said it will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez Canal via Cape Good Hope as it confirmed one of its vessels was attacked while transiting the Red Sea on December 26.
The incident occurred while the MSC container ship MSC UNITED VIII was enroute from King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia to Karachi, Pakistan.
All crew were safe with no reported injuries and a thorough assessment of the vessel was conducted.
“Our first priority remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope,” MSC said.
Relatedly, Malaysia recently imposed a permanent ban on all shipping companies based in Israel, including ZIM, from docking in any ports in the country. The ban includes ships with Israeli flag, ships docked in Malaysia with loaded cargo to Israel.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a statement on December 20 said this is in response to Israel’s violence against Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza.
