Following the announcement there will be a multinational security initiative deployed to the Red Sea to guard seaborne vessels against Houthi attacks off the coast of Yemen, Danish shipping giant Maersk has said it will resume its operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Res Sea.
In a statement the company said, “The recent security situation around the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden has seen Maersk and other carriers pause, adjust and divert services away from the area in the interest of safety. Our utmost priority has been and always will be the safety of our seafarers as well as your cargo on our vessels, and all contingency measures have been introduced with these in mind.”
The company added, “As of Sunday 24 December 2023, we have received confirmation that the previously announced multi-national security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) has now been set up and deployed to allow maritime commerce to pass through the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden and once again return to using the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe. This is most welcome news for the entire industry and indeed the functionality of global trade.”
Officially known as Ansar Allah, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group has been launching attacks on ships passing by the coast of Yemen in response to the actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The group pledged to attack all ships in the Red Sea which either have a connection to Israel, or are bound to or from Israeli ports. The Red Sea is among the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and fuel shipments, as well as the movement of cargo between Europe and Asia.
Last week many of the world’s biggest container shipping companies suspended their use of the route in response to the threats to their ships.
In response to the attacks, the United State announced it had created a multinational coalition force which would patrol the Red Sea and counter the attacks.
In explaining the rationale of the US, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the the free flow of commerce was being endangered by the attacks, as were the lives of innocent mariners, and that the attacks were a violation of international law.
