Cargo ships are extending their routes by up to 10 days and thousands of miles to bypass Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, according to a recent report by The New York Times. Since October 2023, Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, have targeted commercial vessels in retaliation for Israel's actions in Gaza, though some attacks have no clear link to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
This disruption is one of the biggest challenges shipping has faced in years, according to maritime historian Salvatore Mercogliano. The Defense Intelligence Agency revealed that attacks have affected trade interests in at least 65 countries. Between December 2023 and February 2024, container shipping in the Red Sea dropped by 90%.
To avoid the threat, many ships are rerouting around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding up to two weeks to transit time and $1 million in additional fuel costs per voyage. As a result, carbon emissions have also surged, with an estimated 14 million extra tonnes of CO2 released.
Despite the presence of US and EU warships in the region, the attacks continue, leading to a significant decrease in the number of container ships passing through the Red Sea.
