Houthi attacks on shipping in the Southern Red Sea have seen many ship operators rerouting vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, but despite the risk others have continued to send vessels through the region.

The world’s third largest container line CMA CGM has stopped transiting the Red Sea and is rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the threat of Houthi attacks.

As the situation in the Red Sea disrupts normal operations, legal and insurance experts explore some of the practical and legal considerations shipowners and charterers face.

US and UK forces carried out a further series of strikes at the weekend on Houthi targets in Yemen being used to attack commercial shipping the Red Sea.

US military say that two missiles fired by Houthi rebels at the container ship Koi on 1 February failed to reach their target.

Industry concerns have been raised that pirates in West Africa, who have seen shipping trade shifting from the Al-Mandeb strait to around the Cape, could also refocus their operations into the Gulf of Guinea.

Greece is seeking a leading role including taking command of the forthcoming EU naval mission in the Red Sea aimed at safeguarding ships from attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sare'e has claimed that merchant vessel KOI was successfully attacked with naval missiles.

The impact of the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have sent shockwaves throughout global shipping and these were highlighted by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) at US Congress.

Houthi militia are increasingly targeting US and UK-owned vessels transiting the Red Sea with at least three ships from the two countries hit by missiles in the last two weeks, while several others have come under fire.