Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Pause Shipments Through Red Sea as Attacks Escalate

Shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have paused container vessel traffic through the Red Sea amid rising attacks launched against vessels linked to Israel.

“Following the near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar yesterday and yet another attack on a container vessel today, we have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to pause their journey until further notice,” Maersk said in a statement.

The company added that it is working with its logistics team to minimize the impacts of the disruption on customers and ensure the stability of supply chains. The Danish shipping and logistics company is the second largest in the world, with a fleet of around 740 ships. 

German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, which operates 264 vessels, also paused all container ship traffic through the Red Sea until Monday after one of its cargo ships was attacked sailing near the coast of Yemen on Friday, Hapag-Lloyd told The Messenger. No crew members were injured, but the company said it will “take additional measures to secure the safety” of its employees.

The Houthis, a militia group based in Yemen, have claimed responsibility for three recent attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, including Hapag-Lloyd’s, targeting vessels that claim to have connections to Israel over its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks, Bloomberg reported. 

The group, which is said to be backed by Iran, has used its base in northern Yemen to launch more than 70 drones and missiles at multiple ships passing through the Red Sea, Axios reported. Houthi rebels further escalated their offensive on Nov. 19, hijacking a cargo vessel and holding 25 of its crew members captive, according to The Washington Post.

More than 10% of global trade goes through the Red Sea each year, with much of it traversing the Bab el-Mandeb, a thin stretch of water connecting the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal to its north — two of the most strategic waterways in the world. 

“We are deeply concerned about the highly escalated security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” Maersk said. “The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers.”

There were further reports on Friday of another attack involving MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s largest container line, according to Bloomberg. MSC did not immediately respond to The Messenger’s request for comment.