Maersk, the world’s largest shipping company, has announced that it has halted all shipping in the Red Sea until further notice following an attack by Houthi militants in Yemen on Wednesday (May 12, 2021). The attack, which reportedly targeted a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea, is another in a series of Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the region.
The Danish container-shipping giant said in a statement on Friday that it had “decided to temporarily suspend all shipping services in the Red Sea with immediate effect” in response to the attack. Maersk said the decision was taken “in consideration of the safety and security of our customers and vessels”.
The Red Sea has become increasingly dangerous in recent years, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other members of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen facing frequent attacks by the Houthi rebels. In March 2021, the coalition navy reported that Houthi militants had fired a missile at a Saudi tanker off the coast of Yemen.
In a bid to ensure the safety of its vessels and crew, Maersk said it had released its vessels across the Red Sea and instructed its ships to “maintain a safe distance” from the coast and waters of Yemen.
The shipping giant also said it had alerted global security firms, governments, and relevant security organisations of its suspension of services in the region. Maersk said it will constantly monitor the situation and alert customers of any changes in its services when it deems it safe to operate in the Red Sea again.
