The container ships from Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will be escorted through the Red Sea by warships from Europe.
When Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are to send their first Gemini container ships through the Red Sea, the ships will be protected by warships. These will be European naval vessels stationed in the region.
Hapag-Lloyd confirmed this in a written response to ShippingWatch after the two container shipping companies announced on Tuesday that they would be sending two of their ships through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal from mid-February.
Until now, container ships have sailed south of Africa on their way between Asia and Europe due to the risk of armed attacks from the Yemeni Houthi movement.
On westbound voyages, the Gemini route ME11 will be served by the ship Albert Maersk, while Astrid Maersk will handle eastbound voyages, according to a press release from the two shipping companies.
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd do not wish to comment further on the security situation in the Red Sea.
Several European countries have warships in the waters in and around the Red Sea as part of the EU’s naval operation Eunavfor Aspides. The operation’s mandate currently runs until February 28 this year, and the goal is for the warships to protect civilian shipping from armed attacks.
The US Navy is also present with a number of warships in the area around the Red Sea.
Source: SHIPPINGWATCH