Hapag-Lloyd to continue avoiding Suez canal until at least Jan 9

(Sharecast News) - German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd on Tuesday said it would continue to divert its vessels away from the Suez Canal/Red Sea to avoid attacks by Yemeni Houthi militants. Ships will continue to take the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope, adding to costs for customers and lengthening journeys.

"We monitor the situation closely day-by-day, but will continue to reroute our vessels until January 9," a spokesperson for the world's fifth biggest container liner told the Reuters wire agency.

The Houthi have been attacking ships in the region, claiming it is in response to Israel's bombardment and invasion of Gaza after members of the Hamas Islamic group killed more than 1,000 Israeli civilians in an assault on October 7.

One of Hapag-Lloyd's ships was attacked near Yemen on December 15, while a vessel owned by Danish rival Maersk was also fired upon on the weekend before US forces intervened and killed 10 militants.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com