At least 15 tankers alter course in response to the escalating conflict, ship-tracking data shows
15 January 2024 - 21:57
byAndrew Mills and Robert Harvey
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Supporters of Yemen's Houthis protest against recent US-led strikes on Houthi targets, near Sanaa, Yemen, January 14 2024. Picture: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS
Doha/London— Houthi militants struck a US-owned ship carrying steel products with a ballistic missile on Monday south of the port of Aden as the group vowed to keep up attacks after US and British strikes on its sites in Yemen.
Attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis on ships since November have impacted companies and alarmed major powers in an escalation of Israel’s more than three-month war with Hamas militants in Gaza.
In the latest Houthi attack on shipping the dry bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle was struck with a missile off Yemen’s port of Aden, causing a fire in a hold but no injuries on board, operator Eagle Bulk Shipping said.
The ship, which is carrying steel products, was continuing on its way, it said.
The Houthis had previously said they would only target Israeli ships or those en route to Israel.
Container vessels have been pausing or diverting away from the Red Sea to take the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope in response.
Ship-tracking data on Monday showed at least 15 tankers altering course in response to the escalating conflict.
LNG tankers
QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has joined those avoiding the Red Sea, a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Qatar’s Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila and Al Nuaman LNG tankers loaded at Ras Laffan and were heading to the Suez Canal but stopped in Oman on January 14, LSEG ship-tracking data showed. The Al Rekayyat, which was sailing back to Qatar, stopped in the Red Sea on January 13.
“It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape,” the source said regarding QatarEnergy.
The Qatari government and QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
About 12% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal via the Red Sea.
The longer route round SA’s Cape of Good Hope, which various shipping firms have opted for, can add about nine days to the 18-day trip from Qatar to northwest Europe.
The Houthis have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for years, but have turned their sights on the sea to show support for Palestinian group Hamas.
On Sunday the US said its fighter aircraft had shot down a cruise missile fired by the militants towards a US destroyer. No injuries or damage were reported, it said on X.
US ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting free navigation.
“Let’s wait and see what happens,” defence secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News on Monday regarding potential further strikes on Houthi sites.
China also called for an end to attacks on civilian vessels in the Red Sea that have placed Beijing’s commercial interests at risk.
Supplies affected
With vessels pausing or diverting, some supply lines are being affected.
Carmaker Suzuki on Monday said it was halting production at its Esztergom plant in Hungary until January 21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines.
Front-month European benchmark gas prices on the Dutch TTF hub were down €1.6 at €30 per megawatt hour (MWh) in afternoon trade on Monday, LSEG data showed.
Asia spot LNG prices fell to a seven-month low of $10.10 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on Friday, supported by healthy storage levels in Europe and northeast Asia.
Oil prices lost roughly 1% on Monday as the Middle East conflict's limited impact on crude output prompted profit taking after oil benchmarks gained 2% last week.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Houthi missile hits US-owned ship in Gulf of Aden
At least 15 tankers alter course in response to the escalating conflict, ship-tracking data shows
Doha/London— Houthi militants struck a US-owned ship carrying steel products with a ballistic missile on Monday south of the port of Aden as the group vowed to keep up attacks after US and British strikes on its sites in Yemen.
Attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis on ships since November have impacted companies and alarmed major powers in an escalation of Israel’s more than three-month war with Hamas militants in Gaza.
In the latest Houthi attack on shipping the dry bulk carrier Gibraltar Eagle was struck with a missile off Yemen’s port of Aden, causing a fire in a hold but no injuries on board, operator Eagle Bulk Shipping said.
The ship, which is carrying steel products, was continuing on its way, it said.
The Houthis had previously said they would only target Israeli ships or those en route to Israel.
Container vessels have been pausing or diverting away from the Red Sea to take the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope in response.
Ship-tracking data on Monday showed at least 15 tankers altering course in response to the escalating conflict.
LNG tankers
QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has joined those avoiding the Red Sea, a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Qatar’s Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila and Al Nuaman LNG tankers loaded at Ras Laffan and were heading to the Suez Canal but stopped in Oman on January 14, LSEG ship-tracking data showed. The Al Rekayyat, which was sailing back to Qatar, stopped in the Red Sea on January 13.
“It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape,” the source said regarding QatarEnergy.
The Qatari government and QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
About 12% of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal via the Red Sea.
The longer route round SA’s Cape of Good Hope, which various shipping firms have opted for, can add about nine days to the 18-day trip from Qatar to northwest Europe.
The Houthis have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for years, but have turned their sights on the sea to show support for Palestinian group Hamas.
On Sunday the US said its fighter aircraft had shot down a cruise missile fired by the militants towards a US destroyer. No injuries or damage were reported, it said on X.
US ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting free navigation.
“Let’s wait and see what happens,” defence secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News on Monday regarding potential further strikes on Houthi sites.
China also called for an end to attacks on civilian vessels in the Red Sea that have placed Beijing’s commercial interests at risk.
Supplies affected
With vessels pausing or diverting, some supply lines are being affected.
Carmaker Suzuki on Monday said it was halting production at its Esztergom plant in Hungary until January 21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines.
Front-month European benchmark gas prices on the Dutch TTF hub were down €1.6 at €30 per megawatt hour (MWh) in afternoon trade on Monday, LSEG data showed.
Asia spot LNG prices fell to a seven-month low of $10.10 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on Friday, supported by healthy storage levels in Europe and northeast Asia.
Oil prices lost roughly 1% on Monday as the Middle East conflict's limited impact on crude output prompted profit taking after oil benchmarks gained 2% last week.
Reuters
Red Sea crisis puts China’s Suez Canal interests at risk
Container rates jump as Houthi violence in Red Sea causes disruption
NEWS ANALYSIS: Did the US just get lured into war with the Houthis?
Cruise missile fired at destroyer from Houthi areas downed, US military says
Red Sea shipping crisis prompts Tesla and Volvo to delay output
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.