Washington, Dec 27 (Agency) The crisis in the Red Sea caused by Houthi rebels’ attacks has impacted 185 container vessels, disrupting the global supply chains and causing the majority of ships to experience a 7–20 day transit time increase, analytic network project 44 said. “As of December 26th, 2023, Project 44 is estimating a total of 157 vessels are rerouting around Africa so far. Project 44’s AI-powered ETAs have identified that the majority of rerouting vessels will be experiencing a 7–20 day increase in transit time. Some vessels that are rerouting have increased their speeds to help mitigate, which requires using more fuel, so prices for the ocean could increase. 28 other vessels are opting to drift, meaning to stay stationary and try to wait out the conflict,” the watchdog said in an official statement updated on Tuesday.
After the armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas escalated in October, Yemen’s Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, has intensified its attacks on container vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, vowing to continue the attacks until Israel ends its military actions in the Gaza Strip. Last week, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea amid the surge in Houthis’ attacks on cargo ships, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission.