Shipping firm suspends operations in Red Sea due to Houthi attacks
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Norwegian shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced the suspension of its operations in the Red Sea until further notice, joining a growing list of shipping firms that have halted their operations due to repeated attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen in support to Hamas in its war with Israel.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, Iran-backed Houthi militants have frequently fired missiles and drones against U.S. vessels deployed in the Red Sea.
“The safety of our people is our number one priority,” Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO of the company, said in a notice. “As a result of the current security situation in the southern parts of the Red Sea, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has until further notice decided to reroute all vessels to avoid the area.”
On Dec. 15, Danish company A.P. Moller-Maersk said it would cease all shipments across the Red Sea until further notice. A day later, Dec. 16, Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced that its vessels would no longer pass through the Suez Canal. This decision came after Houthi militants launched two ballistic missiles at the MSC Palatium III vessel. On the same day, French shipping company CMA CGM said it was suspending all container shipments via the Red Sea.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen stated that it would redirect all scheduled vessels meant for Red Sea routes to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa instead.