Oil giant BP stops cruises through the Red Sea
Attacks by Houthi rebels on container ships are forcing major shipping companies to rethink. The route through the Suez Canal is too dangerous to continue transportation by sea, according to oil giant BP. Other shipping companies are accepting a long detour.
Following a series of attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea, the energy company BP has stopped all tanker journeys through the sea between north-east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. BP is thus joining several major shipping companies that have taken similar measures in recent days.
"In view of the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the Red Sea, BP has decided to temporarily suspend all transit voyages through the Red Sea," the London-based energy company announced. The decision will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as the situation in the region changes.
In recent weeks, shipping companies have been confronted with an increased risk when transporting goods through the region, as Yemeni Houthi troops have been attacking merchant ships. On Friday, the major shipping and logistics groups A.P. Moller-Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd had already suspended passage through the southern entrance to the Red Sea following attacks on their ships. The French shipping company CMA CGM followed suit on Saturday.
The Taiwanese container shipping company Evergreen is also no longer accepting orders from Israel for the time being and is suspending its ships' voyages through the Red Sea until further notice. Ships in the region will navigate to safe waters, and freighters with a route through the Red Sea will be diverted via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, the shipping company also announced. Hapag-Lloyd also wants to take the detour via the South African Cape, the liner shipping company announced. "This will continue until the passage through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea is safe again for ships and their crews."
The uncertainty among shipping companies is also reflected in the price of oil. They rose moderately at the start of the new week. On Monday morning, a barrel (159 liters) of North Sea Brent crude for delivery in February cost USD 77.07. This was 52 cents higher than on Friday. This was 52 cents more than on Friday. The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery rose by 55 cents to 71.98 dollars.
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In response to the escalating threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Israeli container shipping company Evergreen has temporarily halted all shipments to Israel and suspended voyages through the Red Sea. This decision comes after a string of attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi rebels.
Despite the temporary halt, Israeli businesses are still affected by the disruption in shipping, as many goods are transported via the Red Sea route. The Israeli government is currently exploring alternative shipping routes to mitigate the impact on Israeli businesses and consumers.
Source: www.ntv.de
