Denmark's Maersk Line (Maersk) said on Sunday that it was preparing to resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military operation aimed at ensuring commercial security in the region.
The shipping giant suspended the passage of ships through the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, in early December due to attacks on its vessels. This makes the Suez Canal – the key to the world's largest – impassable on most shipping routes.
The United States said last Tuesday that it would launch a multinational operation to protect businesses in the Red Sea from Iranian-backed Yemeni militants. Yemeni militants have been firing drones and missiles at international ships since last month, which they say are a response to Israel's war in Gaza.
As of Sunday, December 24, 2023, we have received confirmation that the previously announced multinational security initiative 'Operation Prosperity Guardians' (OPG) has now been established and deployed, allowing the passage of the Red Sea** through the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea and the re-use of the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe. Maersk Line said in a statement on Sunday.
With the implementation of the OPG initiative, we are preparing to allow ships to resume eastbound and westbound through the Red Sea. ”
Maersk said it would announce more details in the coming days. However, the company said that depending on the change in the safety situation, measures to divert ship traffic may be taken again.
On Tuesday, Maersk said it would reroute ships across Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. The company said it would impose a container surcharge on goods originating from Asia to compensate for the additional costs associated with long-distance shipments.
In recent weeks, several other companies have halted shipping in the Red Sea due to safety concerns, as has oil giant BP.