News / Insurance claims on the rise with box ships forced to brave Cape weather

© Andrew Bartlett

There has been a prolific rise in weather-related cargo loss and insurance claims since carriers have been forced to brave the extreme conditions round the Cape of Good Hope to escape Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Conventional wisdom has it that ships should avoid heavy storms where possible to minimise the risk of container loss, but the past 270-or so days of re-routing have seen vessels exposed to extreme weather off southern Africa. 

In fact, between 2 June and today, there ...