Red Sea attacks: CMA CGM, Evergreen and OOCL halt services; Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC redirect

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been the site of an increasing number of attacks against commercial shipping targets by Yemen’s Houthi rebel militia, the Iran-supplied Yemeni Armed Forces. 

Beginning with attacks on vessels with Israeli ties, the group’s spokesperson has said the attacks come in reprisal for Israel’s bombing of the Palestinian territory of Gaza in the wake of attacks on Israelis by Iran-backed Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military organisation Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.

But over recent days, the Yemeni Armed Forces attacks on shipping have become seemingly more indiscriminate.

An Ambrey threat circular said, "The Houthis have broadened their target profile of what constitutes ‘affiliated’ from flag, ownership, operatorship and management, to include the destination of Israel. It should also be noted that they, and their Iranian backers, have mistakenly targeted vessels that were no longer associated with Israel."

The company said it advised ship hardening and protection measures for vessels in the region.

"It is also assessed likely [Houthis] may target vessels whose parent companies have co-operated with Israel. This means the threat is no longer transit-specific. As some affiliated merchant shipping diverts from the area, the Houthis are assessed to maintain their broadened scope of potential targets. The insurance industry has responded with markedly higher rates across the board," Ambrey noted. 

An attack on the tanker vessel Ardmore Encounter on 13 December came shortly after the Houthis expanded their threat to all ships heading to Israel and claimed responsibility for a missile strike on J Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi’s Norway-flagged tanker Strinda in the Red Sea.

In a circular titled The Gaza Conflict, the International Union of Marine Insurance called the attacks on vessels "a significant new twist" in the conflict. 

"Houthis seized Galaxy Leader on 19 November using an Mi-17 helicopter to insert an assault team of eight men carrying AK-type rifles. That was a game changer and will require a ship security rethink. It was not in any security procedures manual for commercial vessels. Even if the vessel had an armed team aboard, the dispositions they would have to make in a very short time would not guarantee a successful defence. Worse, having demonstrated their capability, the Houthis also deemed anyone they considered a supporter of Israel to be a legitimate target. Trading and underwriting in the area have entered another phase of risk and uncertainty where political motives clash with commercial operations," the insurance circular said.

The US government has told news agencies it is in talks to put together an announcement for a naval coalition to protect commercial shipping in the region, a move Iranian government officials have vehemently opposed in Iran’s state media reports.

On 11-12 December, US CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla visited partners in Egypt and Jordan. While in Egypt, General Kurilla met with Egyptian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Osama Askar and his staff, and while in Jordan, he met with the Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Yousef Ahmad Al-Hunaiti and his staff. In both locations, US CENTCOM said the leaders discussed the current security concerns in the region.

Analysis of the security threat in the region by Dryad Global chief executive Corey Ranslem said, "Expect the boardings, drone, and missile attacks to continue to escalate in this region for the foreseeable future. Along with the drone and missile issues, there have also been numerous reports of small vessels and helicopters sighted on ’patrols’ within the region which could lead to further threats to shipping."

In addition to the container vessel attacks, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) incident reports have been following a hijacking in progress on board a vessel that is now in the Arabian Sea and heading toward Somalia.

The vessel is thought to be Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar)-owned bulk carrier Ruen. The shipping company has confirmed it has lost contact with the vessel and Bulgarian government officials have called the incident a hijacking. The incident began off Yemen’s Socotra Island, but it remains unclear who is behind the hijacking. UKMTO said it has received a report from the company’s security officer who "believes the crew no longer has control of the vessel". 

Both the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) called for increased military presence in the region to protect seafarers.

"ICS deplores the actions of the Houthis in the strongest terms and calls for the immediate cessation of these attacks. These are unacceptable acts of aggression which threaten the lives of innocent seafarers and the safety of merchant shipping," the ICS said, noting that companies have begun rerouteing around the Cape of Good Hope, adding cost and time to goods carried by ship.

"ECSA strongly advocates for the enhancement of protective structures for the security of commercial vessels transiting through the area. These measures are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of our seafarers and to enhance the security of vital trade routes,” said ECSA Secretary General Sotiris Raptis. 

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