London
\nLeading shipping groups have urged governments \u201cwith influence\u201d to put a stop to Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea after a second freighter sank this week. At least three seafarers have been killed in the attacks so far. The latest sinking is likely to have led to another death, according to a statement Wednesday from more than a dozen shipping associations, including the International Chamber of Shipping and the World Shipping Council.
\nTheir call for action highlights the growing human toll from the disruption to one of the world\u2019s trade arteries which has been virtually closed to container ships since late last year.
\nThe longer diversion around the southern tip of Africa has sent shipping costs soaring and is causing congestion at ports in Asia and Europe, threatening to scramble global supply chains.
\n\u201cIt is deplorable that innocent seafarers are being attacked while simply performing their jobs, vital jobs which keep the world warm, fed, and clothed,\u201d the shipping associations said in their statement.
\n\u201cThis is an unacceptable situation, and these attacks must stop now. We call for states with influence in the region to safeguard our innocent seafarers and for the swift de-escalation of the situation in the Red Sea,\u201d they added.
\nThe statement was released the same day that UK Maritime Trade Operations, part of the Royal Navy, confirmed that a Greek-owned coal carrier had sunk after being struck by the Houthis last week.
\nAccording to the shipping groups, one seafarer on board the vessel, called the MV Tutor, \u201cseems certain to have been killed.\u201d
\n\u201cThis is the second fatal attack in which our seafarers have been caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical conflicts,\u201d they said in their statement.
\nThe MV Tutor is also the second ship sunk by the Houthis. A British-registered vessel, Rubymar, was downed in March after being struck by ballistic missiles fired from Yemen.
\nThe Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, started launching drone and missile strikes on vessels in the Red Sea in November in what they say is revenge against Israel\u2019s war in Gaza. They have since also seized one vessel and its crew, who are still being held hostage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London Leading shipping groups have urged governments \u201cwith influence\u201d to put a stop to Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea after a second freighter sank this week. At least three seafarers have been killed in the attacks so far. The latest sinking is likely to have led to another death, according to a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-413565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n