How safe is Red Sea? Different shipping lines have different answers

Zim’s stock price surged 60% between Dec. 13 and Friday as Red Sea diversions increased, then plunged as much as 18% in mid-day trading on Tuesday following news of fewer detours by ocean carrier Maersk. Tuesday’s trading in Zim’s stock was more than quadruple average volumes.

Other shipping equities, including both container and tanker stocks, also pulled back on Tuesday and Wednesday, presumably pricing in a less extreme view on future detours.

Maersk and CMA CGM headed back to Red Sea

Two carriers plan to resume Red Sea transits despite intensified missile and drone launches — including an attack on the container ship MSC United VIII on Tuesday that one MSC executive said was “extensive” and had the potential to be “catastrophic” — and a new agreement on bonuses and compensation for seafarers due to the “exceptional” risk they face.  

“With the OPG initiative in operation, we are preparing to allow for vessels to resume transit through the Red Sea both eastbound and westbound … as soon as operationally possible,” said Danish carrier Maersk on Sunday. 

French carrier CMA CGM said Tuesday, “We are currently devising plans for the gradual increase in the number of vessels transiting through the Suez Canal.”

FreightWaves asked Maersk if it had reassessed its decision to return to the Red Sea in light of Tuesday’s attack on MSC United VIII. It has not.

“We continue to prepare our vessels for passage through the Red Sea,” a Maersk spokesperson told FreightWaves on Wednesday.

However, he conceded that “the overall risk in the area is not eliminated completely,” and said “Maersk will not hesitate to re-evaluate the situation and once again initiate diversion plans if we deem it necessary for the safety of our seafarers.”

MSC and Hapag-Lloyd will continue Red Sea detours

In contrast to Maersk and CMA CGM, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Switzerland’s MSC will continue to divert from the Red Sea — regardless of Operation Prosperity Guardian.

“The situation remains too dangerous to cross the Suez Canal and therefore we will maintain our diversion around the Cape of Good Hope,” said Hapag-Lloyd on Wednesday.

MSC said Tuesday that it “will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transits via the Cape of Good Hope.”

At least some MSC ships have continued to transit, however. The 8,200-twenty-foot-equivalent unit MSC United VIII was en route from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan when it was attacked.

Details on the incident are limited. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said no commercial vessels were hit on Tuesday. MSC said that no on was injured and that “a thorough assessment of the vessel is being conducted.”

Bud Darr, executive vice president of maritime policy and government affairs at MSC, revealed in an online post on Wednesday night that the attack on the MSC United VIII “had the potential to be quite catastrophic.”

“It is unfortunate to have to admit, but this sea lane is not safe for our seafarers,“ wrote Darr. “I genuinely hope the military operators and diplomats can change that very soon, but for now, no seafarers should have to endure what ours did during this extensive attack yesterday.“

Barrage of drones and missiles from Yemen

According to CENTCOM, the destroyer U.S.S. Laboon and Hornet jets launched from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower intercepted and destroyed 12 suicide drones, three antiballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at targets in the Red Sea during a 10-hour barrage on Tuesday.

The action continued on Wednesday: UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a missile sighting, an explosion, and two additional incidents.

Meanwhile, newly enacted compensation rules highlight the ongoing danger to seafarers even as more container ships plan to run the gauntlet through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) agreed on Friday to designate the southern Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait as a high-risk area. Seafarers whose contracts are covered by IBF agreements will receive a bonus equal to their basic wage for the duration of the transit and double compensation in the case of death or disability.

The IBF decision also requires transiting ships to enact mandatory security arrangements equivalent to International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) Level 3. ISPS Level 3 is reserved for an “exceptional” threat in which “a security incident is probable or imminent.”

Click for more articles by Greg Miller 

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