The General Manager of the Arab Bridge Company in Jordan, Adnan Al-Abadleh, announced the operation of an Arab land and sea transport line between Aqaba and Egyptian ports on the Mediterranean Sea, as an alternative to major shipping companies that have ceased operations in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab due to Houthi attacks.
Al-Abadleh stated, according to the Jordanian newspaper “Al-Dustour” on Saturday, that the Arab Bridge Company has completed the international and technical requirements necessary to operate the alternative route between Jordanian and Egyptian ports on the Mediterranean Sea by establishing a new maritime path. This route goes through Aqaba, then the Egyptian port of Nuweiba, and reaches the Egyptian ports on the Mediterranean Sea, including Alexandria, Port Said, and Damietta.
He further clarified that the alternative route will provide an option for transporting Jordanian exports to the United States and Europe. It will connect the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea through land routes, diversifying trade exchange methods and reducing transportation costs. This initiative also aims to bypass trade through Israeli ports and take advantage of the benefits offered by Egypt to reduce the cost of transporting Jordanian exports and facilitate their access to America and Europe.
Recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have significantly impacted maritime trade, leading to major shipping companies suspending their operations in the area. The attacks have been mainly attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have targeted several vessels.
Two prominent companies, Danish shipping giant Maersk and German container line Hapag-Lloyd, announced a pause in their journeys through the Red Sea following these attacks. A Liberian-flagged vessel caught fire in the Red Sea after being hit by a projectile, believed to be a drone, from Yemen. This incident caused no injuries but did result in physical damage to the vessel. Following this, Maersk instructed all its vessels in the area to pause their journey through the key Bab al-Mandeb Strait until further notice. Similarly, Hapag-Lloyd paused all its sailings through the Red Sea until a later date, deciding on future operations thereafter.
Moreover, Britain’s major oil company BP, along with other significant firms like Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk and Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company, also decided to suspend transit through the Red Sea. This decision was taken due to the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the area. Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine announced the temporary suspension of Israel import and export services, rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope instead. These developments indicate a significant shift in shipping routes, with analysts predicting increased shipping costs and more delays as a result of avoiding the Red Sea.
