(Adds Klaveness Combination Carriers, updates Maersk)
Dec 28 (Reuters) - Iranian-backed Houthi militants in
Yemen have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea to show
their support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting
Israel in Gaza.
The attacks, targeting a route that allows East-West trade,
especially of oil, to use the Suez Canal to save the time and
expense of circumnavigating Africa, prompted some shipping
companies to reroute vessels earlier in December.
Others, now encouraged by the deployment of a U.S.-led
military operation, are resuming crossings of the area.
Below are companies' reactions (in alphabetical order) to
the situation in the Red Sea:
C.H. ROBINSON CHRW.O
The global logistics group said on Dec. 22 it had rerouted
more than 25 vessels around the Cape of Good Hope over the past
week, and that number would likely continue to grow.
"Blank sailings and rate increases are expected to continue
across many trades into Q1 of 2024," it added.
CMA CGM
The French shipping group is planning a gradual increase in
the number of vessels transiting the Suez Canal, it said on Dec.
26. "This decision is based on an in-depth evaluation of the
security landscape and our commitment to the security and safety
of our seafarers," CMA CGM said in a statement.
The company had previously rerouted several vessels via the
Cape of Good Hope.
EURONAV EUAV.BR
The Belgian oil tanker firm said on Dec. 18 it would avoid
the Red Sea area until further notice.
EVERGREEN 2603.TW
The Taiwanese container shipping line said on Dec. 18 its
vessels on regional services to Red Sea ports would sail to safe
waters nearby and wait for further notification, while ships
scheduled to pass through the Red Sea would be rerouted around
the Cape of Good Hope. It also temporarily stopped accepting
Israeli cargo.
FRONTLINE FRO.OL
The Norway-based oil tanker group said on Dec. 18 that its
vessels would avoid passages through the Red Sea and the Gulf of
Aden.
GRAM CAR CARRIERS GCC.OL
The Norwegian shipping company, which specialises in pure
car truck carriers, said on Dec. 21 its vessels were restricted
from passing through the Red Sea.
HAPAG-LLOYD HLAG.DE
The German container shipping line said on Dec. 21 it would
reroute 25 ships by the end of the year to avoid the Suez Canal
and the Red Sea, adding it would take further decisions at the
end of the year.
A projectile believed to be a drone struck one of its
vessels sailing close to the coast of Yemen on Dec. 15. No crew
were injured.
HMM 011200.KS
The South Korean container shipper said on Dec. 19 it had
ordered its ships from Europe that would normally use the Suez
Canal to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope for an indefinite
period of time from Dec. 15.
HOEGH AUTOLINERS HAUTO.OL
The Norwegian shipping company said on Dec. 20 it would stop
Red Sea transit after the Norwegian Maritime Authority raised
its alert for the southern part of the sea to the highest level.
KLAVENESS COMBINATION CARRIERS KCCK.OL
The Norway-based fleet operator said on Thursday it was
unlikely to sail any of its vessels in the Red Sea, unless the
situation improves.
MAERSK MAERSKb.CO
The Danish shipping group said on Dec. 27 it had scheduled
several dozen container vessels to travel via the Suez Canal and
the Red Sea in the coming days and weeks.
It had earlier said it was preparing to let vessels return
to the Red Sea after the deployment of the U.S.-led military
operation.
MSC
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said on Dec. 16 its
ships would not transit through the Suez Canal, with some
already rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, a day after two
ballistic missiles were fired at its vessel.
OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS
Ocean Network Express (ONE), a joint venture of Japan's
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines 9104.T , Nippon Yusen 9101.T and Kawasaki
Kisen Kaisha 9107.T , said on Dec. 19 it would reroute vessels
away from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Instead, its ships
will navigate around the Cape of Good Hope or temporarily pause
their journey and move to safe areas.
OOCL
The Hong Kong-headquartered container group said on Dec. 21
it had guided its vessels to either divert route or suspend
sailing to the Red Sea. The company, owned by Orient Overseas
(International) Ltd 0316.HK , has also stopped cargo acceptance
to and from Israel until further notice.
WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN WAWI.OL
The Norwegian shipping group said on Dec. 19 it would halt
Red Sea transits until further notice. Rerouting vessels via the
Cape of Good Hope will add 1-2 weeks to voyage durations, it
said.
YANG MING MARINE TRANSPORT 2609.TW
The Taiwanese container shipping company said on Dec. 18 it
would divert ships sailing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of
Aden via the Cape of Good Hope for the next two weeks.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
US launches Red Sea force as ships reroute to avoid attacks
urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3DD2U7
Yemen's Houthis claim responsibility for Red Sea container ship
attack urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3DL0AQ
FACTBOX-How companies are responding to attacks on ships in the
Red Sea urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N3DE22M
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
(Compiled by Paolo Laudani, Izabela Niemiec and Jesus Calero in
Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi, Kirsten Donovan and Andrew
Heavens)
((Paolo.Laudani@thomsonreuters.com;))