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(Reuters) – Danish shipowner Maersk announced on Wednesday its intention to transit several dozen container ships through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea over the coming weeks, after temporarily abandoning this sea route due to of the risk of attacks off the coast of Yemen.
The schedule could further evolve depending on specific contingency plans that could be developed over the coming days, the company added in a communication to its customers.
Maersk shares fell 5.01% at 2:33 p.m. GMT, partially wiping out last week’s gains as passage through the shorter Suez Canal risks leading to a correction in freight rates.
Other maritime stocks also fell, notably Hapag-Lloyd (-6%), the oil group Frontline (-5.3%) and the car transporter Hoegh Autoliners (-3%).
Maersk announced on December 24 that it was preparing to resume traffic in the Red Sea due to the deployment of warships responsible for protecting boats against attacks by the Houthis of Yemen, allies of Iran, who say they are acting in support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Around twenty container ships from the Danish company have been rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope since the suspension of traffic off Yemen.
The French shipowner CMA CGM declared on Tuesday that it planned to gradually increase the number of ships transiting the Suez Canal.
(Written by Terje Solsvik in Oslo, French version Tangi Salaün and Dagmarah Mackos, edited by Kate Entringer)
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