Maersk Ships Attacked again Near High-Risk Waters
Two Maersk Line, Limited ships were attempted attacked on Wednesday en route to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The ships reported explosions nearby, and U.S. Navy escorts detected projectiles. Maersk confirmed that the crew, ships, and cargo were unharmed. Centcom attributes the attacks to the Houthi movement, though not confirmed by the Houthis. The situation in The Red Sea region is a major headache for global trade, since the route is one of the busiest shipping routes. After a previous attack in December by the Houthis, Maersk at first suspended sailing for 48 hours, later extended indefinitely after the New Year. Following Wednesday’s incident, Maersk has now stopped all sailing in the area indefinitely, including ships flying the U.S. flag. Maersk ships, along with many competitors, now reroute south of Africa, avoiding the Red Sea.