The company is preparing to allow ships to pass through once more, Maersk announced on Sunday evening. On Saturday they were confirmed that the announced security initiative “Operation Prosperity Guardian” was now set up to enable passage through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
“This is very good news for the entire industry and the viability of global trade,” the company said. The safety of their employees has top priority. They were working on plans to allow the first ships to pass through as soon as possible. The company did not give a timetable. They are still at an early stage.
Attacks by Houthi rebels
Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, ships in the Red Sea have been increasingly attacked by Houthi rebels. According to US intelligence, the rebels in Yemen are supported by Israel’s arch-enemy Iran.
Maersk ordered its container ships to temporarily stop sailing through the area in mid-December. Instead, freighters were rerouted via South Africa. The attacks posed a significant threat to sailors, the company said at the time. Other shipping companies also avoided the route.
Multiple countries involved in operation
The US then announced that it would increase its cooperation with the armed forces of other countries in the region. According to the US, several countries are taking part in the initiative, called “Operation Prosperity Guardian”, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain. They want to improve the protection of merchant ships.
