Shipping giant Maersk prepares to resume operations in Red Sea By Reuters

© Reuters. File photo: Containers from the methanol fuel container ship Laura Maersk docked in port after an official naming ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Denmark’s Maersk said on Sunday it is preparing to resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It cited the deployment of U.S.-led military operations designed to ensure commercial security in the region.

The shipping giant paused sending ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in early December due to attacks on its ships. This left the Suez Canal, a keystone of global trade, unusable for most routes.

The United States said Tuesday it would launch a multinational operation to protect Red Sea commerce from Iranian-backed Yemeni militants who have been firing drones and missiles at international shipping since last month in response to Israel’s war. let’s go.

“As of Sunday, December 24, 2023, we have received confirmation that Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), a previously announced multinational security initiative, has been established and deployed to allow maritime commerce to transit the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden. Masersk said in a statement on Sunday it was returning to using the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe.

“With the OPG initiative operational, we are preparing to allow ships to resume sailing through the Red Sea from both the east and west.”

Maersk said it would release more details in the coming days. However, he said vessel traffic could be diverted again depending on how the safety situation evolves.

On Tuesday, Musk said he would reroute ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. It said it would impose a container surcharge on cargo originating from Asia to cover the additional costs associated with long-distance travel.

Like oil major BP (NYSE:), several other companies have halted Red Sea transit in recent weeks due to safety concerns.