Maersk halts Red Sea shipping until further notice after Houthi militant attack

Maersk, a Danish shipping company, has announced that it will stopped all its Red Sea shipping routes until further notice. This announcement comes after a Houthi militant attack on the Worlds VLCC Farrell off the coast of Yemen, in which 2 crew members were injured. The incident occurred on Thursday, just days after the Houthi militia launched an attack on the Saudi-flagged tanker MV Kota Ganti, prompting Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Gulf countries to launch a series of retaliatory airstrikes against targets in Yemen. Maersk did not disclose which routes were halted but stated that “customers affected by this disruption will be contacted” directly. The company also said that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as the situation develops. Maersk’s move highlights the increasing risks posed to Red Sea commerce by the growing tensions in the region. In recent months, the United Nations has warned of a potential conflict in the Red Sea if the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis do not agree to a ceasefire. The attack on Maersk’s vessel increases the urgency for all parties to take measures to deescalate the conflict and ensure safe passage for vessels in the region.