SINGAPORE: The Port of Singapore “remains unaffected” by the situation in the Red Sea, where commercial vessels have been attacked by Houthi militants, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Thursday (Dec 21).
MPA is, however, monitoring developments closely and is prepared to assist ships that have been delayed by diversions.
“Should the disruption be protracted and ships’ schedules increasingly impacted, MPA and partners in the Port of Singapore stand ready to assist ships calling in Singapore to ‘catch up’ on their schedules and facilitate cargo movements,” it said in response to queries from CNA.
MPA noted that several major container shipping companies had begun to divert their ships away from the Suez Canal, which links the Red and Mediterranean seas and is part of a key trade route that connects Europe and North America with Asia.
The longer alternative route that vessels are taking around the Cape of Good Hope adds one to two weeks of sailing time, depending on where they are going.
“Concurrently, some oil companies are also temporarily halting shipments through the Red Sea,” said MPA, adding that an estimated 10 per cent to 15 per cent of total global trade and 30 per cent of container trade passes through the Suez Canal every year.
MPA said it had advised owners, managers, operators and masters of Singapore-flagged ships to “review their ships’ security plans and implement necessary risk mitigating measures when trading in that area”.
“MPA has not received requests for assistance from Singapore-flagged vessels navigating the Red Sea,” the authority added.
The Houthis, who control vast amounts of territory in Yemen after years of war, have since last month fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red Sea in what it says is a response to Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza.
Last week, global shipping firms such as Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM said they would avoid the Suez Canal as the Iran-backed militants stepped up their assaults.
The United States has launched a 10-nation coalition to quell the attacks, with Britain, France, Bahrain and Italy among the countries joining the “multinational security initiative”.