Danish tanker company Torm has announced the suspension of all transits through the southern Red Sea following recent attacks by Yemen’s Huthi rebels and subsequent retaliatory strikes by the US and UK.
In response to the growing number of Huthi rebel attacks on vessels they perceive as Israeli-linked in the key Red Sea international trade route, Torm decided to pause all transits through the southern Red Sea until further notice, according to a company spokeswoman.
Torm, which owns a fleet of approximately 80 vessels specializing in petroleum product transportation, joins other shipping companies, such as Denmark’s Maersk, in altering routes to circumvent the troubled region.
The recent uptick in attacks, coupled with the US and UK airstrikes in rebel-held areas in Yemen, has heightened concerns about a potential broader conflict in the area.
The targeting of ships has forced companies to divert routes around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, impacting global trade flows at a time when supply strains are already contributing to increased inflation pressures worldwide.
