The Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen has intensified attacks on vessels in the Red Sea to demonstrate support for the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas), which is fighting Israel in Gaza. The assaults, targeting a route crucial for trade between East and West, particularly oil trade via the Suez Canal, have prompted some shipping companies to reroute vessels to avoid the area. Below are the companies that are considering or have decided to temporarily halt shipping through the Red Sea (in alphabetical order):
**CMA CGM**
The French shipping group CMA CGM announced on December 16 that it has temporarily suspended all container shipments through the Red Sea following attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
**Hapag-Lloyd**
The German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd stated on December 15 that it is assessing whether to suspend sailing through the Red Sea, hours after one of its ships was reported to have been attacked. A projectile believed to be a drone hit its vessel "Al-Jasrah" while sailing near the Yemeni coast. No crew members were injured.
**Maersk**
The Danish company A.P. Moller-Maersk announced that it will suspend all container shipments through the Red Sea until further notice following a "near miss" incident involving its vessel Maersk Gibraltar the previous day. The company reported that the ship was targeted by a missile while traveling from Salalah in Oman to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
**Orient Overseas Container Line**
Orient Overseas Container Line has halted the acceptance of goods to and from Israel until further notice due to operational issues, according to the shipping line owned by Orient Overseas (International) Limited, based in Hong Kong.
