International Service – sea News–Following the announcement of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, two major shipping companies, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, have announced that they will not immediately return to the Red Sea. These companies emphasized that they will closely monitor the security situation in the region and will only return to this waterway when conditions are deemed safe.
A spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd told Reuters, “The agreement has just been signed. We will carefully follow new developments and assess their impact on the security situation in the Red Sea.” A Maersk spokesperson added, “It is still too early to decide on a timeline for our return.”
Earlier in June, Hapag-Lloyd had stated that even in the event of a ceasefire agreement, an immediate return to the Suez Canal would not be possible due to potential threats posed by Houthi militants based in Yemen. The company’s spokesperson also noted that resuming regular routes could take between four to six weeks.
The security developments in the Middle East have led many shipping companies to opt for longer routes to ensure the safety of their vessels, sometimes forcing them to bypass the African continent via the Cape of Good Hope. These route changes have resulted in increased transportation costs and disruptions to global maritime shipping.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have stated that they will continue to evaluate the situation and will make their final decisions based on future security assessments.
Source: Reuters
