Maersk Decides Not To Return To Red Sea

Global shipping giant Maersk has decided to once again avoid sending its vessels through the Red Sea, reversing an earlier decision resuming using that route. Maersk’s announcement came after the Maersk Hangzhou came under attack on Dec. 30. The attack included a missile strike and then an attempted boarding of the ship by Houthi militia members, which was thwarted by U.S. Navy helicopters responding to a distress call by the Hangzhou. The U.S. helicopters destroyed three of the four Houthi boats. U.S. Central Command reported another incident yesterday in which two anti-ship missiles were fired from the Houthi-controlled area of Yemen but apparently impacted in the water without hitting anything as no damage to nearby ships was reported.