The French shipping giant CMA-CGM has finally thrown in the towel.
Unlike other international companies, the Marseille shipowner had not given up throughout the month of January on transiting its container ships via the Suez Canal, braving potential attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
But this Friday, the CMA-CGM decided, like the Dane Maersk, to go around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, which extends the journey by around two weeks.
The “decision” will be maintained “until further notice”, to “not take any risks”, AFP learned from a source close to the matter.
In the context of the war in Gaza, Houthi rebels close to Iran, who control a large part of Yemen, have increased attacks since November against ships they consider to be linked to Israel.
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Like other shipowners, CMA-CGM interrupted transit through the Red Sea on December 16, before resuming it on December 27.
But unlike others, the French shipowner continued throughout the month of January despite several attacks in the area.
In January, Paris sent a third military ship to the Red Sea.
The frigate “L’Alsace” “responds to surveillance of attacks against commercial ships.
It is the contribution to all initiatives in the region, such as Prosperity Guardian", named after a coalition led by the United States in the Red Sea to defend freedom of maritime movement, a spokesperson for the 'Staff.
Incessant attacks
On Thursday the US military shot down another drone off the coast of Yemen and destroyed an unmanned naval surface drone loaded with explosives in the Red Sea.
The American military Command in the Middle East (Centcom) also announced that the Houthi rebels had launched two missiles potentially targeting a cargo ship, without hitting it.
According to the IMF, maritime container transport through the Red Sea fell by almost 30% year-on-year.
Before the conflict, between 12 and 15% of global traffic passed through this axis, according to the EU.