Maersk halts shipping operations in the Red Sea

In the statement made by Maersk, it was stated that the company decided to stop all passages through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until further notice, following the attack on the ship “Maersk Hangzhou” on December 30.

In the statement, it was stated that the investigation into the incident continues and that the company will continue to stop all cargo operations in the region while evaluating the constantly evolving situation in detail.

In the statement, it was stated that the route of the ships will be changed and the voyage will continue around the Cape of Good Hope when it makes sense for Maersk customers, and added: “This decision was taken to ensure the safety of our sailors and the cargo on our ships, which is our top priority.” The expression was used.

The commercial cargo ship named “Maersk Hangzhou”, operated by Denmark and flying the Singapore flag, reported that it was hit by a missile while passing through the south of the Red Sea on December 30 and requested help.

In the post made on the US Central Command (CENTCOM)

In CENTCOM’s post, it was noted that the action in question was the 23rd attack against international shipping by the Houthis since November 19, 2023.

Following the recent actions of the Houthis, many shipping companies decided to stop their voyages in the Red Sea.

The Pentagon announced on December 6 that they were in talks to establish an international “Maritime Task Force” against the attacks of the Houthi forces in Yemen against commercial ships in the Red Sea, and on December 18 it announced the establishment of a multinational mission called “Operation Welfare Guardian”.

While the attacks of the Houthis endanger the passage through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, offering the shortest route between Europe and Asia, and through which approximately 12 percent of global trade is carried out, the attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the successive decisions taken by companies are affecting the global economy. It increased concerns that a new “supply chain crisis” would begin in the economy.