Support mounts for ships rerouting around the Cape

Red Sea attacks see more shipping lines opt for safer route

Support from major international maritime organisations as more shipping lines announce their decisions to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope will likely highlights the importance of crew safety despite the significant additional shipping time that this represents.

Today, Secretary General of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) noted the impact of the of the opting not to sail via the Suez Canal, but applauded companies making the decision.

“The primary concern of the ITF is the safety of seafarers and we would expect shipping companies to share that concern. Seafarers move the world. We applaud companies that are rerouting their vessels. The focus at this time needs to be about the health and safety of the seafarers and less about the cost of oil and transport,” he said.

Rerouting will have a significant impact on tours of duty in the global supply chain, but most importantly it will reduce the risks to seafarers that the Red Sea currently brings. 

The ITF has acknowledged the steps taken by a number of leading shipping companies including Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, and MSC  to stop using the Red Sea.

The outgoing Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim,  also issued another statement today noting the rerouting decisions of major shipping lines.

“The IMO Secretariat is closely monitoring developments and communicating with relevant stakeholders, including the shipping industry, IMO Member States, and United Nations partners,” he said.

“Once again, I invite Member States to work together to ensure unhindered and safe global navigation and the well-being of innocent seafarers everywhere. This is a prerequisite for maintaining the world's supply chains and is in line with the framework of the Djibouti Code of Conduct."

Two tugs commissioned for Ghana First FPSO for Sangomar offshore oil development