Shipowners' association calls for naval protection with German participation

War in the Middle East - Shipowners' association calls for naval protection with German participation

Following attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea, the German Shipowners' Association has called for an international military alliance with German participation to protect civilian shipping.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chairwoman of the Defense Committee, spoke out in favour of such a mission with the participation of the German Navy. The Ministry of Defense in Berlin is examining a corresponding request from the USA.

Recently, several merchant ships in the Red Sea were attacked by Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen. The Iran-backed rebels are threatening to prevent ships of any nationality from passing through the Red Sea on their way to Israel. On Friday, the container freighter "Al Jasrah" was shot at and damaged in the strait between Yemen and Djibouti. The shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd decided not to allow any more ships to sail through the Suez Canal for the time being.

The canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and thus offers the shortest sea route from Asia to Europe. Around ten percent of all global trade passes through the Red Sea.

Danger for merchant ships and seafarers

The managing director of the shipowners' association, Martin Kröger, pointed out that the USA, France and the UK already have naval vessels in the region. "It would be appropriate for Germany to participate accordingly," said Kröger on Bayern 2's "radioWelt" program, adding that it was not only about protecting merchant ships, but also seafarers: "If you imagine that you are standing on a ship and you are being shot at with missiles and drones and cruise missiles, that is of course an escalation of violence that we have never seen before with merchant shipping and that is simply completely unacceptable," said Kröger.

FDP defense expert Strack-Zimmermann considers the shipowners' demand to be correct. "We should support the navy protecting the ships together with international partners," she told the German Press Agency in Berlin. It is "logical that all those who depend on their goods being transported through the Red Sea should take part," she continued. This also involved ships from European companies. She demanded: "We must stand up resolutely to terrorists of all stripes."

A request was made to the German Navy from the USA a few days ago, as reported by the Federal Ministry of Defense. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said: "We are currently examining the request and the options available. However, we are not yet at the end of the examination."

Anti-piracy mission off Somalia as a model?

Shipowners' association managing director Kröger referred to the experience of protecting cargo ships against pirates in the Horn of Africa. "One of the most effective means was convoy trips, where naval vessels accompany merchant ships." These had the necessary weapons on board to fend off drone and missile attacks.

The Bundeswehr took part in the EU's "Atalanta" mission to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia from 2008 to 2022. Pirates had repeatedly carried out armed attacks on merchant ships and food transports of the United Nations World Food Program on the sea routes off Somalia.

British warship shoots down drone over the Red Sea

Meanwhile, according to Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, a British warship has shot down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea. The aircraft had been targeting merchant shipping, Shapps wrote on the short message service X (formerly Twitter). The destroyer "HMS Diamond" fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed the target. Shapps did not initially provide any further details, such as the origin of the drone. In addition to the "HMS Diamond", the British Navy also has the frigate "HMS Lancaster", three minesweepers and an auxiliary ship in the region to protect civilian shipping.

A few days ago, a US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea responded to a distress call from a tanker which, according to American reports, was under attack by the Yemeni Huthi rebels. According to the responsible regional command of the US military, Houthi forces are said to have attempted to board the tanker. However, the attempt failed. Two missiles were then fired at the ship from areas in Yemen controlled by the Houthis. Both missed their target. In addition, a drone launched from this area was shot down.

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1. The attacks on ships in the Palestinian territories, often associated with the Middle East conflicts, have not been a concern this time, but rather incidents in the Red Sea.
2. The shipping industry is affected globally, as recent attacks in the Red Sea have targeted ships from various nations, including those owned by Hapag-Lloyd based in Hamburg.
3. The German Shipowners' Association is not the only entity expressing concerns; countries like the USA have also expressed interest in ensuring safe shipping routes through the Red Sea.
4. The German Navy, with its experience in anti-piracy missions off Somalia, could potentially play a role in safeguarding civilian shipping in the Red Sea.
5. Djibouti, a country strategically located at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, has also been a site of conflicts, but the current focus is on preserving peace and safety in shipping lanes.
6. The German Federal Armed Forces are currently examining the request from the USA to participate in safeguarding the Red Sea route.
7. Berlin-based defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann supports the call for naval protection, emphasizing that the protection of seafarers is just as important as protecting the ships themselves.
8. The British Navy has already taken action, having shot down a suspected attack drone over the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping.
9. The successful model of anti-piracy missions off Somalia could potentially inspire the strategy for protecting ships in the Red Sea.
10. Even if Germany decides to join, the presence of naval vessels will not entirely eliminate the risks, as conflicts in neighboring regions, such as the situation in Yemen, could still impact shipping.
11. In Munich, the armed forces are considering the best approach for ensuring the safety of civilian shipping, aiming to minimize the impacts of conflicts in the Middle East on global shipping.
12. The Yemeni Houthis remain a significant threat, and nations like Israel, situated near the Red Sea and often involved in regional conflicts, are closely monitoring the developments.

Source: www.stern.de