FACTBOX-Shipping firms avoid Red Sea as Houthi attacks increase

Maritime authorities and shipping ministries, including those of Norway and Greece, also warned against sailing in the area. Below are companies (in alphabetical order) that have decided to pause shipping via the Red Sea: CMA CGM The French shipping group said on Dec. 18 it was rerouting some vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, and had instructed all its other container ships that were scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to reach safe areas and pause their journey until further notice.

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, have pushed some shipping companies to reroute vessels. Maritime authorities and shipping ministries, including those of Norway and Greece, also warned against sailing in the area.

Below are companies (in alphabetical order) that have decided to pause shipping via the Red Sea: CMA CGM

The French shipping group said on Dec. 18 it was rerouting some vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, and had instructed all its other container ships that were scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to reach safe areas and pause their journey until further notice. EURONAV

The Belgian oil tanker firm said on Dec. 18 it would avoid the Red Sea area until further notice. EVERGREEN

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

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

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

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 its vessel on Dec. 15, while sailing close to the coast of Yemen. No crew were injured.

HMM The South Korean container shipper said on Dec. 19 it had from Dec. 15 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.

HOEGH AUTOLINERS 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.

MAERSK The Danish shipping company on Dec. 15 said it would pause all shipments through the Red Sea until further notice, following a "near-miss incident" involving its vessel. On Dec. 19, it said that vessels due to sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden would be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope.

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, Nippon Yusen and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, said on Dec. 19 it had decided to 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 Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has stopped cargo acceptance to and from Israel until further notice, the shipping company owned by Hong Kong-based Oriental Overseas (International) Ltd said on Dec. 16.

WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN 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 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.

(Compiled by Paolo Laudani, Izabela Niemiec and Jesus Calero in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi)

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