Amid heightened Houthi threats, CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container line, shifts its shipping routes for increased safety.
CMA CGM has strategically altered its shipping routes in response to growing Houthi threats, discontinuing transits through the Red Sea and opting for the Cape of Good Hope.
The decision marks a departure from the company’s previous practice as the sole top-tier container line using the Red Sea and Suez Canal on voyages between Asia and Europe/Med, escorted by the French Navy through the southern Red Sea region.
Effective February 1, 2024, until further notice, all services initially using the Red Sea passage will now follow the Cape of Good Hope route, adding approximately 10 days to two weeks to voyages between Asia and Europe/Med.
This move aligns CMA CGM with industry peers like MSC, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd, emphasising a collective response to security concerns. The decision follows a failed Houthi missile strike on the 8,600 TEU container vessel Koi, chartered by CMA CGM, on February 1, 2024. The company underscores its commitment to prioritising the safety of its seafarers amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.
