More missile attacks from Yemen on allied western military forces have spilled into the nearby shipping lanes, once again sparking fears that it is no longer safe to pass through the vital route, reported Reuters.
Shipping companies are not yet diverting their vessels, but the main concerns regarding one of the world’s busiest shipping routes is a spike in insurance costs for travelling in the region, and disrupted operations.
Technical Paper: Securing Port Perimeters: Land and Seaborne Threats
The Yemen Civil War began in 2015, and shows no signs of stopping in the near future, as Saudi-led attacks on rebels supported by US forces escalate the situation.
There have been reports that seafarers are choosing already to switch off their tracking systems to avoid detection from hostile actors as they berth in Yemen.
It has been revealed that the US Navy is planning a counter attack against the Houthi Rebels, causing further concern to shipping authorities regarding merchant vessels being caught in the crossfire.
Advice to any shippers with vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait is to keep as far a distance from the coast of Yemen as possible, and to be on high alert.
In August, 2016 PTI reported that the Saudi coalition had announced that there was a prevalent threat to shipping in the busy Bab al-Mandab strait after a civilian vessel was hit by Houthi Rebels.
