The attacks that started in late 2023 have seen a large
number of vessels re-routing via the Cape of Good Hope, adding significantly to
the length of voyages between Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the
Middle East.
Readers
were given five options: Port congestion, Houthi attacks on ships in the Red
Sea, cybersecurity, compliance with regulations, and availability of qualified
seafarers.
A majority of readers, 52%, said that Houthi attacks on
commercial ships in the Red Sea was their top concern.
Interestingly, diversions have in many cases proved
beneficial to shipping markets but have also added to fuel costs and emissions.
For vessels that continue to transit the Red Sea the threat
of attack from the Houthi continues with ships often subject to multiple
attacks from both air and sea.
The second top concern among readers, some 27% was port
congestion, an issue which in some cases can also be linked to the disruption
caused by the Red Sea crisis.
Of the three other issues 10% put compliance with
new regulations as their top concern, 6% the availability of qualified
seafarers, and 5% cybersecurity.
