Attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea risk pushing up the price of oil and other goods, analysts have warned.
As petrol is derived from oil, increases in the price of crude usually feed through to higher costs at the pump.
Several firms have paused shipments through the route after vessels were attacked by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The world’s second largest shipping line, Maersk, said today Tuesday it would reroute some of its vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
The disruption has led the US to launch an international naval operation to protect ships in the Red Sea route.
Countries joining the security action – named Operation Prosperity Guardian – include the UK, Canada, France, Bahrain, Norway and Spain.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin held a virtual meeting with ministers from more than 40 countries on Tuesday, and called on more nations to contribute to the security efforts.
“These reckless Houthi attacks are a serious international problem and they demand a firm international response,” he said.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence said the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond would join the new task force, with the security situation “deteriorating”.
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, as well as for consumer goods. It is bookended by the Bab al-Mandab Strait – also known as the Gate of Tears – in the south near the coast of Yemen and the Suez Canal in the north.
Houthis have declared their backing for Hamas in its war with the Israelis and the rebels based in Yemen said they were targeting vessels which they believe are heading for Israel.
However, some firms, such as Investor Chemical Tankers, whose Swan Atlantic vessel was attacked on Monday, said that its ship had no links to Israel.
Despite the launch of the international operation to ensure safe passage through the Red Sea, Maersk said it was not clear when it would resume journeys along the route, and would assess things on a case-by-case basis.
It said while it was pleased to hear of international efforts to improve security in the area, “at this time it remains difficult to determine” when it would return to the Red Sea route.
Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd, a German firm whose Al Jasrah vessel was attacked last Friday, said that while it welcomed the new task force, the company needed 100% assurance the Red Sea was safe for ships to return.
The alternative route, around the Cape of Good Hope, adds about 3,500 nautical miles to the journey.
Hapag-Lloyd’s head of corporate communications Nils Haupt told the BBC: “We go from the eastern Med to Singapore. Normally it takes 13 days through the [Suez] Canal – without using the canal that will be 31 days.
“If we go to the east coast of the US normally it’s 25 days through the canal. Without the canal it will be 31 days… it will be a lot more transport time and a lot more fuel.”
Attacks on ships have intensified in recent days. Investor Chemical Tankers said its Swan Atlantic tanker was hit by an “unidentified object” on Monday, while Maersk described the situation as “alarming” on Friday after a “near-miss” incident involving Maersk Gibraltar and another attack on a container ship.
Oil giant BP said on Monday that it would temporarily pause all shipments of crude through the route. Rival energy giant Shell has yet to comment.
At the moment, changes to the oil price have been minimal. Prices rose 1% on Monday, but on Tuesday they were little changed with benchmark Brent crude trading at around $78 a barrel.
Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of shipping newspaper Lloyd’s List, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What is going to be very interesting is if the tankers continue to reroute.
“That’s a much more finely balanced market that could have serious implications for the global supply chain.”
