Maersk Line and APL maintain the routing via Suez despite pirates
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Two major container carriers said they are maintaining the routing of the big ships that ply the trade lane between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal during the recent spate of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa, but they are increasing security measures. Both Maersk Line and APL told The Journal of Commerce that they are not changing the routings of their ships on the Asia-Europe trade lane, at least not yet.
“We have, however, introduced increased safety precautions and requirements for the vessels operating in the area,” said Morten Englestoft, chief operating officer of Maersk Line in Copenhagen.
“We are constantly reviewing these procedures based on the latest intelligence on the situation available,” he said.
APL said it is has security plans in place for each of its vessels. “No vessel can be 100 percent secured against an incursion, but our ships transiting the area are fast and have high free-boards which makes boarding difficult and risky,” said Michael Zampa, a spokesman for the Singapore-based carrier.
“The ships also have powerful engines. They can maneuver well and generate a lot of wake to frustrate unwelcome approaches,” Zampa said.
Maersk Line said it has been routing some of its ships from Europe to Asia around the Cape of Good Hope in order to avoid paying tolls for passing through the Suez Canal on the less-heavily loaded eastbound leg of the trade.
Despite the additional time required for that detour, Maersk Line is also considering routing its westbound ships around the cape, more as a way of avoiding canal tolls than because of the threat of pirate attacks.
“We have increased the number of services sailing eastbound to Asia south of Africa and we are still very seriously considering routing westbound services via the cape of Africa as well,” Englestoft said..
“The increased risk of hijacking is also something that we do take into consideration when deciding our routing -- and not least our safety procedures for our vessels operating in the risk zone,” he said.
Separately, Maersk Line congratulated the U.S. Navy on the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips and the safe return of the crew of Maersk Alabama.
“We are very pleased that the master of Maersk Alabama, Captain Richard Phillips, has been rescued. We want to extend deep appreciation to everyone involved and responsible for this very successful outcome,” said Michel Deleuran, group senior vice president and Maersk Line head of network and product.
“We have, however, introduced increased safety precautions and requirements for the vessels operating in the area,” said Morten Englestoft, chief operating officer of Maersk Line in Copenhagen.
“We are constantly reviewing these procedures based on the latest intelligence on the situation available,” he said.
APL said it is has security plans in place for each of its vessels. “No vessel can be 100 percent secured against an incursion, but our ships transiting the area are fast and have high free-boards which makes boarding difficult and risky,” said Michael Zampa, a spokesman for the Singapore-based carrier.
“The ships also have powerful engines. They can maneuver well and generate a lot of wake to frustrate unwelcome approaches,” Zampa said.
Maersk Line said it has been routing some of its ships from Europe to Asia around the Cape of Good Hope in order to avoid paying tolls for passing through the Suez Canal on the less-heavily loaded eastbound leg of the trade.
Despite the additional time required for that detour, Maersk Line is also considering routing its westbound ships around the cape, more as a way of avoiding canal tolls than because of the threat of pirate attacks.
“We have increased the number of services sailing eastbound to Asia south of Africa and we are still very seriously considering routing westbound services via the cape of Africa as well,” Englestoft said..
“The increased risk of hijacking is also something that we do take into consideration when deciding our routing -- and not least our safety procedures for our vessels operating in the risk zone,” he said.
Separately, Maersk Line congratulated the U.S. Navy on the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips and the safe return of the crew of Maersk Alabama.
“We are very pleased that the master of Maersk Alabama, Captain Richard Phillips, has been rescued. We want to extend deep appreciation to everyone involved and responsible for this very successful outcome,” said Michel Deleuran, group senior vice president and Maersk Line head of network and product.