As many container shipping companies such as Maersk and CMA CGM have stopped using the Red Sea for their routes after many attacks by Houthis, major companies are already reporting delays in their shipments.
In response for Israel’s assault on Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7, the Houthis in Yemen are targeting ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. As a result, the dozens of attempted attacks against commercial vessels in the region have had a severe effect on shipping, with multiple companies avoiding it altogether, in order to ensure the security of their crew and vessels.
Alas, the Red Sea is a vital waterway linking Europe and Asia, with about 12% of global trade passing through. Stalling shipping though this route is bound to cause major delays.
One great example of this is when, on March 21, 2021, the grounding of container ship ‘Ever Given’ at the Suez Canal made headlines, not only because of the diagonal way in which the ship blocked the narrow waterway but also because its blockage resulted in a global trade disruption.
Now, as a result of the Red Sea attacks, companies like IKEA furniture company are stating that there could be delays and availability constraints for certain products. Electrolux is also facing problems, with the company focusing on finding alternative routes to continue smooth operations. However, using the Cape of Hope alternative route adds thousands of extra miles, extra time, as well as extra costs and emissions.
The situation in the Red Sea has been puzzling the global community, and it remains uncertain how things will progress. In any case, situations like this highlight the importance of shipping, and remind the world that much of what we take for granted in our every day lives is shipped from thousands of miles away, thorough a complex and fascinating supply chain. Nevertheless, all this would be impossible without people working onboard the vessels, whose safety is being prioritized.
