return to sailing through the Red Sea anytime this year. Global shipping giant Maersk stated in its 8 August second quarter earnings call that “we still expect that the disruption will last for the full year.” Similarly, K-Line said in its 4 August results that “safety must be confirmed” before it will send any of its 260-strong fleet through the Red Sea, and “at present, the timing of such a return remains uncertain.”
Maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb continues to average around 30 vessels per day this year, less than half the average before the Houthis began their Red Sea attacks at the end of 2023. After the Houthis sunk two ships in July killing at least four sailors the group has widened its threats to merchant vessels, threatening any with links to Israel (MEES, 11 July). (CONTINUED - 133 WORDS)