“57 ships headed to Africa after being damaged in the Red Sea and Suez Canal”
As the threat of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea increased, shipping companies diverted cargo worth tens of billions of dollars to places other than the Red Sea, U.S. business media CNBC reported on the 19th (local time).
According to Paolo Montrone, senior vice president of global transportation and logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, 57 container ships are currently making long-distance voyages around Africa without transiting through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
“As more people take this route, that number will increase,” Montrone said. “The total container capacity of these vessels is 700,000 TEU.” 1 TEU refers to one 20-foot container.
According to Antonella Teodoro, senior consultant at consulting firm MDS Transmodal, the value of one container is approximately $50,000 (approximately 65 million won). CNBC explained that if the value of the entire cargo is calculated, it amounts to $35 billion (about 45.45 trillion won).
Previously, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the launch of ‘Operation Guardians of Prosperity’, a multinational security initiative focused on the Red Sea region, and mentioned the operation of the Combined Maritime Forces, a naval task force to protect merchant ships, but this operation was not implemented. As the details have not yet been confirmed, the anxiety of related companies is growing.
“We are advising our clients to continue to maintain best management practices, including assessing vessel transport risks and preparing crews to respond with safety measures in case of an emergency,” said Dan Mueller, senior Middle East analyst at maritime security company Ambry.
It is also reported that maritime transport companies are explaining to shippers about delivery delays due to threats from the Houthi rebels.
In the case of Maersk, a shipping company that has suspended operations in the Red Sea and is shipping through Africa, a shipping delay of about 2 to 4 weeks is expected.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.