A Danish fuel tanker giant said it’s stopped allowing its fleet to sail through through the southern Red Sea, a sign that overnight strikes on Yemen could add to disruptions in oil markets.
Torm, which owns about 80 vessels, said it is halting all transits until further notice.
The decision is in line with notifications from industry trade groups, which say the Combined Military Force, which includes the US and UK navies, has advised all merchant ships to stay away from the area of hostility.
For ships that heed the advice, it means that Egypt’s Suez Canal, a vital trade artery, is no longer a usable route between Asia and Europe.
And it is unclear how long the blockage will last.