The decision to implement the Cape of Good Hope network has been taken after thorough consideration and is driven by ongoing safety concerns in the Red Sea region.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas brings much-needed humanitarian relief and hope for peace to be restored, and the announcement from the Houthi organisation on their plans to cease attacks in the area with peace talks ongoing, is a very welcome step in the right direction towards stability and eventual normality for the global shipping industry.

The process to bring the current conflict between Israel and Hamas to an end is dependent on a multi-phased roadmap continuing to be met, and as such the predictability of the situation remains a complex challenge. Furthermore, due to the continued tensions in the region, the security risk of commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb strait remains high.

With this in mind—and the safety of our crew, vessels, and your cargo being our utmost priority—Maersk will continue to sail around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope until safe passage through the area is ensured for the longer term. We have taken this decision to optimise stability and certainty across your supply chain. Returning to the area without fully ensuring safe passage could result in our networks needing to be adjusted again, which would prove complicated both operationally and indeed for supply chain management.