18 December 2023 (Lloyd's List) - Three more shipping companies, including the world's largest container liner Mediterranean Shipping Company, have followed the lead of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd in suspending voyages through the Red Sea, in response to a series of attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi forces last week.

MSC took the decision to reroute vessels following the attack on container ship MSC Palatium III (IMO: 9336165) on December 15 while transiting the Red Sea.

“Until the Red Sea passage is safe, MSC ships will not transit the Suez Canal Eastbound and Westbound. Already now, some services will be rerouted to go via the Cape of Good Hope instead,” MSC said in a statement on Saturday.

"This disruption will impact the sailing schedules by several days of vessels booked for Suez transit," according to MSC.

"We have decided to instruct all CMA CGM containerships in the area that are scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to reach safe areas and pause their journey in safe waters with immediate effect until further notice," CMA CGM also said on Saturday, noting "The situation is further deteriorating and concern of safety is increasing. "

Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line issued a statement on Saturday announcing the immediate suspension of cargo acceptance to and from Israel until further notice. The company did not provide specific details regarding the reasons behind this decision, referring to it as an "operational issue".

"The Yemeni Armed forces vowed to continue to prevent the navigation of vessels heading to Israel until enough food and medicine that our steadfast brothers are in need of in Gaza are allowed into the Strip," Yahya Sare'e, a spokesperson for Houthi forces, said on X, formerly Twitter on December 15, noting "the Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to target any ship that violates what was stated in its previous statements."