Houthi threat spurs quick shield for Cypriot ships

The Deputy Ministry of Shipping has taken temporary measures to protect Cypriot ships due to the attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement against ships passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and northeast Africa leading to the Red Sea, Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hatzimanolis told CNA on Wednesday.

The Deputy Minister noted that following these attacks and the threat to the ships' safety, major shipping giants decided to change their routes and suspend cargo transfers in the region, a move that results to damages for the global economy and global trade.

Hatzimanolis said that the extra cost is mainly due to the fact that merchant ships use longer routes, lengthening the required travel time and adding delays, since they are now forced to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal which is the shortest sea route from Asia to Europe, due to the threat from the Houthis. This 6,000-mile detour leads to delays of up to two weeks for vessels berthing in the Mediterranean, she explained.

Expanding the length of the travel period of ships that change their route also has an impact on the environment, since there is more fuel consumption and a greater number of emissions, she pointed out, adding that as a result of the attacks and the increased risk for the security of ships, there is also a significant increase in the cost of insurance for ships that pass through this area.

Due to the attacks, she said, the Deputy Ministry took temporary measures to protect Cypriot ships, based on relevant Law provisions, and a Decree was issued and entered into force on December 23, 2023, expanding the high-risk areas to cover the areas of the attacks.

She concluded by saying that a relevant Information Circular was issued on Wednesday in order to inform the shipping industry about the temporary measures that have been taken.