Evasive Maneuvers as Shippers Reroute Vessels
According to a recent report, some ships traveling through the Red Sea are resorting to turning off their tracking systems in order to evade attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This comes as shippers such as Hapag Lloyd, MSC, Maersk, BP, and the oil tanker group Frontline have announced their decision to reroute their vessels away from the area, opting to send them around South Africa instead.
The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has reported that since Sunday, four MSC container ships in the Red Sea have shut off their transponders. MSC had previously declared its intention to avoid the area. Other ships are also employing tactics to obscure their whereabouts by pinging false locations as they approach the Yemen coastline, as stated by Ioannis Papadimitriou, a senior freight analyst at Vortexa, a ship tracking company.
Vessels Anchored in Red Sea, Armed Guards on Board
Reuters reports that at least 11 cargo vessels which passed through the Suez Canal are currently anchored in the Red Sea between Sudan and Saudi Arabia, according to LSEG data. Some ships are reported to have armed guards on board for added security.
In a separate incident, a vessel was approached by four small boats about 80 nautical miles northeast of Djibouti. However, no weapons were reported to have been sighted.
Formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational security initiative aimed at addressing the security challenges in the Red Sea. Austin expressed concern over the recent escalation in Houthi attacks originating from Yemen, as it threatens not only the free flow of commerce but also endangers innocent mariners and violates international law. He emphasized the critical role of the Red Sea as a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade and supports freedom of navigation.
Fox Business’ Bradford Betz contributed to this report.