Shipping companies avoid Suez route due to shelling – naval protection required
Published: Sunday, Dec 17th 2023, 11:20
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Major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal due to the attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels. After the shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, the world's largest container shipping company MSC also suspended its shipments on this route on Saturday. The alternative route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa extends the transports by a few days. The German Shipowners' Association has called for an international military alliance with German participation to protect civilian shipping. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), Chairwoman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee, also spoke out in favour of this.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Israel with drones and missiles, among other things, and have attacked ships in the Red Sea to prevent them from sailing towards Israel. On Friday, the container freighters "Al Jasrah" from Hapag-Lloyd and the "MSC Palatium III" were damaged in attacks. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and thus offers the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. Around ten percent of all global trade passes through the Red Sea.
Danger for merchant ships and seafarers
"In order to preserve the lives and safety of our seafarers", the Suez Canal would no longer be transited until the route through the Red Sea was safe again, MSC said in Geneva on Saturday. 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 if Germany were to participate accordingly," said Kröger on the Bayern 2 radio program "radioWelt" on Saturday.
FDP defense expert Strack-Zimmermann also emphasized: "We should support the navy protecting the ships together with international partners." It is "logical that all those who depend on their goods being transported through the Red Sea should participate," the politician told the German Press Agency. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Friday that a US request was being examined. "However, we are not yet at the end of the investigation," said the SPD politician.
Anti-piracy mission off Somalia as a role model?
Head of the shipowners' association 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.
Drones shot down over the Red Sea
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Israel with drones and missiles. On Saturday, a US Navy destroyer shot down 14 drones over the Red Sea, which, according to the US military's regional command, were launched from an area in Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. According to Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, a British warship on Platform X also shot down a suspected attack drone over the Red Sea.
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