News / No deals with carriers, say Houthis – Red Sea safe for non Israel-affiliated ships

Yemen’s Houthi militia have told The Loadstar they have not been giving assurances to individual carriers they will not target their vessels in the Red Sea.

Earlier this month, the group announced it would refocus efforts to block access to Israel’s port of Haifa and not attack non-Israeli vessels using the Red Sea, but CMA CGM’s status as the only carrier transiting the Suez Canal, has prompted suggestions of a side-deal with the Houthis.

A Houthi spokesperson told The Loadstar: “We are in correspondence with numerous carriers, but no assurances have been provided to any company whatsoever.

“From our side, maritime navigation in the Red Sea is safe, and the restrictions are strictly limited to companies and vessels affiliated with, or belonging to, the usurping Zionist entity, in accordance with publicly announced declarations.”

“These actions aim to apply pressure on the Israeli entity to end the aggression, open crossings to the Gaza strip, and allow the entry of humanitarian aid, food, and medicine.”

Since Israel’s war against Gaza began at the end of 2023, the Iran-backed group has sought to prevent commercial traffic transiting the Red Sea via a series of attacks, forcing trade flows around the Cape of Good Hope.

Israeli carrier Zim remains a target for the Houthis, CEO Eli Glickman warning that a return by major carriers to the canal could prove financially catastrophic, with Zim facing a double hit on earnings, competing against rivals able to offer the far-faster route.

Mr Glickman said: “They could push rates down while our costs and time increase, and there will probably also be high supply, with vessels going back into the market.”

However, the CEO of Vespucci Maritime, Lars Jensen, told The Loadstar he did not think the impact would be existential, noting that last year only 9% of Zim’s volumes were shipped on the Asia-Europe trade.

But with the Houthi position tethered to Israel’s siege of Gaza, Mr Jensen said it was not surprising that carriers had been cautious in resuming Red Sea transits.

But the Houthi spokesperson said: “In essence, companies that are aware of the sanctions regulations, and follow the statements issued clearly, [will] understand that the sanctions and transit prohibition do not apply to all companies and vessels.

“They are specifically limited to those that meet the conditions for enforcement of sanctions, as defined in officially announced sanctions, prohibitions, and designation decisions.”