Calls to suspend Red Sea shipping after deadly Houthi attack

The international community, including governments and the shipping industry, has come together in its universal condemnation of the attack on the bulker True Confidence, which killed three and severely injured at least three other crewmembers. 

The United States, United Kingdom, Germany and many others issued statements while there are also calls for all shipping to be suspended through the Red Sea.
“The violent attack, inhumane targeting of innocent civilians and civilian vessels on international maritime routes,” was strongly condemned by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry. 

They reported that the citizen who was killed was the Deputy Captain of the vessel, 41-year-old, Dang Duy Kien, while the chief engineer and two other Vietnamese citizens were in good condition in a Djibouti hotel.
The Philippine Government through the Foreign Affairs Department said it was “greatly distressed and deeply concerned.” They reported that a team from their embassy in Cairo, Egypt is on its way to Djibouti to provide assistance to the Filipino crew members.

“Innocent seafarers should never become collateral victims,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a video statement.  He called for “collective action to fortify the safety” of crew members at sea.
The major shipping industry associations including BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, Intercargo, INTERANKO, World Shipping Council and others joined together for a joint statement. They expressed their deep concern calling the loss of life and injuries completely unacceptable. They also called for “decisive action to safeguard the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and put an end to such threats”.

Experts are predicting that this tragedy, while likely inevitable, is likely to have a significant impact on the industry both with increased costs and the likelihood of even more diversions. David Ashmore, employment lawyer at global law firm Reed Smith, emphasised the profound safety considerations and intricate challenges arising from the conflict in the Red Sea, impacting both shipowners and seafarers.
“This tragedy further intensifies the difficulties in recruiting seafarers globally. In a world grappling with a shortage of maritime workforce, these safety concerns add another layer of complexity to an already challenging task,” said Ashmore. 

(The Maritime Executive)