Some shippers avoiding Suez Canal, Red Sea after alleged rebel attacks

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Suez Canal by rebel groups are complicating shipping in the region, with several carriers announcing plans to avoid the waterways and instead send ships around the Cape of Good Hope.

Hapag-Lloyd said in a notice to shippers that after an attack on its vessel Al Jasrah in the Red Sea on 15 December that it is avoiding the region beginning 18 December.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said it is also rerouting vessels after the MSC Palatium III was attacked on 15 December while transiting the Red Sea under sub charter to Messina Line.

All crew are safe with no reported injuries, but the vessel suffered limited fire damage and has been taken out of service.

“Due to this incident and to protect the lives and safety of our seafarers, until the Red Sea passage is safe, MSC ships will not transit the Suez Canal Eastbound and Westbound,” MSC said on Monday. “Already now, some services will be rerouted to go via the Cape of Good Hope instead.”

This disruption will impact the sailing schedules by several days of vessels booked for Suez transit, MSC said.

Global major bp is pausing shipments through the Red Sea, and Norway’s Equinor also announced it will avoid the region.

Some shipping companies that operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers are also avoiding the Red Sea.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said it is monitoring the situation closely and the canal remains open to traffic per usual.

The SCA said about 55 vessels have changed their routes to instead sail around the African continent but noted that 2,128 have passed through the canal since 19 November, including 77 on 17 December.

Thumbnail shows the Suez Canal. Image by Shutterstock.