Ships with links to Israel are diverting in greater numbers from the Red and Arabian Seas following a series of attacks over the past 11 days by Houthis, Iranians and Somalis.
Danish liner giant Maersk became the latest big name to announce that a pair of its ships on charter – Lisa and Maersk Pagani – will be diverted with cargoes discharged in the United Arab Emirates resulting in delays of more than a week.
“This decision has been made with careful consideration of various factors, prioritizing the safety of crew, the vessel, and your cargo,” Maersk stated in an advisory to clients.
Many other shipping companies with Israeli-linked vessels in their fleet have made similar decisions in recent days. Israeli carrier ZIM, for instance, said a number of its ships would be heading via the Cape of Good Hope to get to their destinations.
G7 foreign ministers called Wednesday on the Houthi militia to cease threats to international shipping and to release a vessel – the Galaxy Leader – and its crew of 25 seized earlier this month.
New satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies shows the Galaxy Leader car carrier off the coast of Yemen on November 28, anchored off the coast of the coastal village of As Salif with a support tender vessel positioned nearby.
“Emphasising the importance of maritime security, we call on all parties not to threaten or interfere with lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by all vessels,” a statement released by G7 chair Japan read.
The US, meanwhile, has warned all commercial ships transiting the Indian Ocean to exercise caution after several clashes in the Red Sea.
The Maritime Administration, an agency within the US Department of Transportation, has issued an alert directing all ships to “exercise caution when transiting these areas and remain cognizant of evolving threats in this region.”
The US is suggesting ships avoid Iran’s international waters and the ports of Yemen as best as possible and to maintain vigilance for small boats and drones that could pose a threat.
