World’s largest shipping group, MSC announces the diversion of its ships from the Red Sea

World’s largest shipping group, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has announced that it is diverting its ships away from the Red Sea after an attack on one of its container ships on Friday. In a statement, the shipping giant said, no injuries were reported, but the vessel suffered some fire damage and has been taken out of service.

French company CMA CGM took a similar step a day after Danish shipping giant Maersk and German transport company Hapag-Lloyd suspended Red Sea journeys. The decision comes after attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and fuel shipments. But the Houthis have been stepping up their attacks, using drones and rockets against foreign-owned vessels.

The US today said that its guided-missile destroyers had shot down 14 Houthi drones in the Red Sea. In its announcement, MSC said the situation in the area had become serious. It said that its container ship MSC PALATIUM III was attacked on Friday as it was transiting the Red Sea.