Shipping companies are changing routes due to shelling from Yemen

Large shipping companies are changing the routes of cargo ships that previously passed through the Red Sea due to increased shelling from Yemen. On Monday, two more ships were attacked by maritime drones: the Norwegian tanker Swan Atlantic and the Panamanian-flagged container ship MSC Clara. The radical Islamist group of the Yemeni Houthis “Ansar Allah” took responsibility for the shelling. Yehia Saria, a representative of the group, said that the ships did not respond to the “Yemen naval forces” in connection.

One of the world’s largest oil refining companies, British Petroleum, has announced that it is suspending the transportation of oil by tankers through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – that is where the shelling is taking place. The Evergreen company – one of the leaders in the field of container transportation – did the same.

According to analysts, this can lead to an increase in the prices of oil and oil products due to the increase in the cost of their transportation by other routes, and to interruptions in the supply of food and consumer goods. The route is responsible for 15% of all sea cargo transportation in the world. Cargo ships from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean pass through the Suez Canal located in Egypt into the Red Sea, and then through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait they enter the Indian Ocean, passing through the countries of Asia, Africa and Australia.

An alternative to this route for ships from Europe and North America can be a circuitous route around the African continent, which takes at least 10 days longer and increases transportation costs by millions of dollars.

US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Monday. He reported that the United States intends to provide support to Israel, including in ensuring the safety of shipping. Virtual negotiations with the defense ministers of the countries of the region, which will be held on Tuesday, should be devoted to this issue. On Monday, Austin and his Israeli colleague Yoav Gallant discussed only the issues of Israel’s war against the Hamas group, recognized as a terrorist group in the United States and Europe, and the safety of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

• The Houthis, who control the northern part of Yemen, have previously announced that they are joining the war with Israel, and will fire on any ships going to or from Israel or connected to it. In recent days, shelling from their side has occurred almost daily. At the same time, vessels that have nothing to do with Israel are being attacked. Representatives of the Houthis explain their actions by the fact that the crews of these vessels did not respond to radio calls.