Maersk Halts Red Sea Sailings Following Houthi Attack On Container Ship

Iranian-backed Houthi militants targeted a Maersk container vessel, the Maersk Hangzhou, with missiles and small boats. The assault prompted Maersk, one of the world's major cargo shippers, to temporarily suspend all sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours.

The attack took place approximately 55 nautical miles southwest of Al Hodeidah, Yemen, with the crew of the Maersk Hangzhou reported safe and no indication of fire on board. Despite the alarming incident, the vessel remained fully maneuverable and continued its journey northward to Port Suez.

This assault is the latest in a series by Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea to express support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, engaged in conflict with Israel in Gaza. The ongoing attacks have disrupted global trade, compelling major shipping companies to opt for the longer and costlier route around Africa's Cape of Good Hope rather than through the strategic Suez Canal.

The Red Sea is a crucial entry point for ships using the Suez Canal, handling about 12 per cent of global trade and serving as a vital route for the movement of goods between Asia and Europe.

In response to such security threats, the United States initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian on 19 December, involving more than 20 countries to safeguard ships in the Red Sea waters near Yemen. Despite this effort, attacks persisted, leading Maersk to resume sailings through the Red Sea on 24 December. However, with the recurrence of assaults, the company decided to pause all transits through the area for the next 48 hours.

Additionally, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron conveyed to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian the need for Iran to help prevent further Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Cameron said that Iran, given its long-standing support for the Houthis, shares responsibility for preventing these assaults, which pose a threat to innocent lives and the global economy.

A US warship engaged in the region intercepted two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). Subsequently, the same ship faced an additional attack by Houthi militants in four small boats. The security team and helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely thwarted an attempted boarding, returning fire and sinking three of the militant boats. The fourth boat fled the area.

The Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, capable of carrying 14,000 containers, was en route from Singapore at the time of the attack. 

(Inputs from Reuters)