Danish container shipping major Maersk is preparing to resume vessel transits through the Red Sea following the deployment of naval assets in the region under the multinational security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG). The United States launched the new multinational security operation under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea. In addition to the United States; United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain have also signed onto the initiative. Maersk joined numerous carriers in suspending vessel transits in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden following the escalation of the security situation in the region and the growing number of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi Group. But in a statement issued on Christmas Eve, Maersk said, “With the OPG initiative in operation, we are preparing to allow for vessels to resume transit through the Red Sea both eastbound and westbound.

Source: The Guardian December 27, 2023 12:22 UTC