(Updates entries for CMA CGM, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd)
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants have stepped up attacks on ships in the Red Sea to show support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which is fighting Israel in Gaza.
These attacks impact a vital route for East-West trade, particularly for oil, as ships access the Suez Canal via the Red Sea.
In response, some shipping companies have directed their ships to bypass southern Africa, a slower and therefore more expensive route.
Below you will find the measures taken by the companies (in alphabetical order):
CH ROBINSON CHRW.O
The global logistics group told The Address on December 22 that it had re-routed more than 25 ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the past week, and that number was likely to increase.
“Blank departures and fare increases are expected to continue on many traffics until the first quarter of 2024,” he added.
CMA CGM
French shipping company CMA CGM said on January 5 that it had not changed its plans announced last month to gradually increase the number of ships transiting the Suez Canal.
She had previously rerouted several ships via the Cape of Good Hope.
EURONAV EUAV.BR
The Belgian oil shipping company said on December 18 that it would avoid the Red Sea until further notice.
EVERGREEN 2603.TW
Taiwan’s container shipping company said on Dec. 18 that its ships providing regional services to Red Sea ports would sail to nearby safe waters and wait for further notification, while ships scheduled to pass through the Red Sea would be redirected towards the Cape of Good Hope. The company also temporarily stopped accepting Israeli cargo.
FRONTLINE FRO.OL
The Norwegian oil group declared on December 18 that its ships would avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
GRAM CAR CARRIERS GCC.OL
The Norwegian company, which specializes in vehicle transport, declared on December 21 that its ships could not pass through the Red Sea.
HAPAG-LLOYD HLAG.DE
The German container shipping company said on January 2 that it had decided to continue avoiding the Red Sea, diverting ships to the Cape of Good Hope, until at least January 9, date when she will assess the situation again.
Hapag Lloyd said it incurred costs in the double-digit million euro range between December 18 and 31 due to the diversion of 25 vessels in response to militant attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
A projectile believed to be a drone hit one of its ships sailing near the coast of Yemen on December 15. No crew members were injured.
HMM 011200.KS
The South Korean container shipper said on Dec. 19 that it had ordered its ships that normally use the Suez Canal to pass through the Cape of Good Hope.
HOEGH AUTOLINERS HAUTO.OL
The Norwegian shipping company said on December 20 that it would stop sailing via the Red Sea () after the Norwegian maritime authority raised its alert for the southern part of the sea to the highest level.
KLAVENESS COMBINATION CARRIER KCCK.OL
The Norway-based fleet operator said on December 28 that its ships were unlikely to sail in the Red Sea unless the situation improved.
MAERSK MAERSKb.CO
The Danish shipping group said on January 2 that all its cargoes would continue to avoid the Red Sea route until further notice, before declaring on January 5 that it would suspend its Red Sea traffic “for the foreseeable future.”
On December 31, the company halted all shipments via the Red Sea for 48 hours after the container ship Maersk Hangzhou was attacked by Houthi militants.
Maersk rerouted four of the five container ships heading south on January 4, bringing them back through the Suez Canal for the long journey around Africa.
MSC
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said on December 16 that its ships would not transit the Suez Canal, with some having already been diverted via the Cape of Good Hope, a day after two ballistic missiles were fired at one of his ships.
OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS
Ocean Network Express (ONE), a joint venture between Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha 9107.T, Mitsui OSK Lines 9104.T and Nippon Yusen 9101.T, said on December 19 that it would divert ships from the Red Sea to Cape Bonne -Hope or that she would temporarily stop trips and go to safe areas.
OOCL
The Hong Kong-based container shipping group said on Dec. 21 that it had asked its ships to divert their Red Sea route or halt their navigation. The company, owned by Orient Overseas (International) Ltd 0316.HK, has also stopped accepting cargoes to and from Israel until further notice.
WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN WAWI.OL
The Norwegian shipping group said on December 19 that it was halting transits in the Red Sea until further notice. Rerouting ships via the Cape of Good Hope will add 1-2 weeks to journey times.
YANG MING MARINE TRANSPORT 2609.TW
The Taiwanese container shipping company said on December 18 that it would divert ships crossing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden via the Cape of Good Hope for the next two weeks.