Red Sea Security Situation

Carriers are extremely concerned about the highly escalated security situation in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The recent attacks on commercial vessels in the area are alarming and pose a significant threat to the safety and lives of seafarers, as well as the functionality of global trade.

Following the near-miss incident involving ships on Thursday 14 December 2023 and yet another attack on a container vessel on Friday 15 December 2023, carriers are avoiding the Suez Canal and the Red Sea until further notice. They will begin routing ships around the Cape of Good Hope, pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait or wait in a safe location until the situation is deemed safe for crews, ships and cargoes.

We are monitoring the situation constantly. We expect to share more information about these events and any others that may affect your operations.

We are committed to ensuring the stability of our customers’ supply chains, and we are working closely with our logistics teams and taking the necessary steps to minimize the impact on our customers.

We understand the potential impact this will have on your supply chain, but please know that all decisions are being carefully considered by our teams and only implemented to ensure the safety of the entire supply chain.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this difficult situation. If you have any questions or wish to discuss options, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local South East World Wide (Chicago) Ltd Sales Representative.