Due to the crisis in the Red Sea, ships are arriving in the Spanish port of Barcelona with a delay of ten to 15 days. Port chief Lluís Salvadó told reporters today. Ships in the Bab al-Mandab strait in the southern Red Sea are under attack by Yemeni rebels backed by Iran. Alternative routes around the southern tip of Africa are much longer and more expensive.
Impact on LNG routes and trade channels
The delays affect ships carrying all types of products, including liquefied natural gas (LNG). Barcelona is one of the largest LNG terminals in Spain.
Delays in the western Mediterranean are shorter because these ports are closer to the bypass route around Africa, Salvadó said. “It affects ports in the eastern Mediterranean very significantly,” he added.
Some shipping companies have suspended transit through the Red Sea, but many fuel tankers continue to use the route. QatarEnergy, the world’s second-largest LNG exporter, has stopped sending tankers through the Red Sea.
Fighting back
Yemeni Houthis have been attacking vessels since last November in response to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They are reacting to the support that some countries are giving to the Israeli government. Yemeni rebel positions have been attacked several times by the international coalition led by the United States as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Denmark, where the shipping company Maersk is based, sent the frigate Iver Huitfeldt to the area today. It carries US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles and ESSM surface-to-air missiles, but will not be able to defend itself or other ships against ballistic missiles, Danish Navy Chief of Staff Henrik Ryberg said. Last week, the Goose fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US-flagged container ship operated by Maersk.
Source: Czech Press Office
