Maersk has announced a 48-hour delay for its ships traveling through the Red Sea due to an attack on one of its merchant vessels by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.
The US military reported that its helicopters intervened in response to distress calls from the Maersk Hangzhou on Sunday, sinking three boats operated by the Houthis and killing those onboard. A fourth boat fled the area.
The Danish company stated that all of its crew members are safe, but they require time to investigate the incident and further assess the security situation. Consequently, they have chosen to postpone all transits through the area for the next 48 hours, as announced on Sunday.
The weekend attack occurred after the Maersk Hangzhou traversed the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern entry to the Red Sea, while on its way from Singapore to Port Suez, according to the company.
This incident follows closely on the heels of Maersk's announcement just a week ago that it would restart shipments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, following the formation of a new US-led military presence to protect the region.
Several major global companies, such as BP, have announced the suspension of their operations in the Red Sea and are steering clear of the important Suez Canal due to recent attacks on commercial ships by the Houthis. The militants claim these attacks were retaliation against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Approximately 10% to 15% of global trade, including 30% of container trade, goes through the Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Maersk Hangzhou was initially struck by an unidentified object but was able to keep moving as there was no fire on board, according to Maersk. Subsequently, four boats approached the ship and attempted to board by firing at it.
A helicopter was dispatched from a nearby navy ship, and in coordination with the ship's security team, the boarding attempt was successfully thwarted.
The recent sinking of the Houthi boats is the first instance of the United States targeting and killing members of the Iranian-backed rebel group since the start of tensions in 2023. The Houthi movement, also referred to as Ansarallah (Supporters of God), is a key player in the nearly decade-long Yemeni civil war.
The US has chosen not to launch direct strikes on the group in Yemen in an effort to prevent further escalation of the crisis. However, a spokesman for the National Security Council announced on Sunday that the US would still take action in self-defense.
In response to the situation, the US has sent warships to the Red Sea and initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian last month. This multinational maritime coalition aims to enhance security in the vital global shipping lane.
Commercial ships had already started to be redirected around the southern tip of Africa, which led to worries about potential increases in freight costs and delivery times if the Suez Canal remained effectively closed for an extended period of time.
In response to the disruption, Maersk had rerouted its vessels away from the Red Sea and implemented new charges for transporting goods along longer routes. However, the company announced last Sunday that it would be resuming shipping in the area.
"As mentioned in our update on December 29th, the Maersk Hangzhou was one of the initial vessels to resume travel through the Red Sea after the deployment of multinational security measures in the area," the statement from this week reported.
Meanwhile, other shipping companies such as Hapag-Lloyd, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Evergreen are still choosing to redirect their ships around Africa.
