Briefing
Several shipping companies have resumed passages through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal since mid-October 2026. Companies cite a temporarily more favourable risk situation and the availability of naval escorts for individual convoys as reasons. However, authorities and industry observers stress that the situation remains volatile and every passage must be assessed individually.
Hapag-Lloyd from Hamburg has once again listed Suez passages as an option in its latest routing guidance. At the same time, the company says thorough security checks are carried out before every transit in coordination with military protection forces and the relevant authorities. Industry reports note that escort capacity is limited and that ships sometimes have to join queues for convoys.
The International Maritime Organization condemned recent attacks on merchant ships and recommends that updated risk assessments be carried out before every passage. Reporting centres such as UKMTO have reported periods without confirmed attacks since August 2026, but have also issued warnings and reported individual incidents in the area of Bab el-Mandeb and the southern Red Sea. Naval deployments by the European Union under the name Operation Aspides are intended to protect merchant ships in certain areas; however, their operational reach and available escort capacity are not comprehensive.
The choice of route has a direct impact on the German economy. Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope significantly lengthens journey times and increases fuel and insurance costs. A safe return to a route through the Red Sea would shorten transit times, but remains dependent on security arrangements and the prevailing situation. Logistics companies and security consultants therefore call for reliable information-sharing between shipping companies, naval deployments and authorities, so that decisions can be adjusted at short notice.
Observers also clearly distinguish between facts and assessments: governments, international organisations and shipping companies confirm that some transits have resumed, while independent analysts describe this as a cautious step, not a return to normality. Whether the easing holds will depend on the security situation along the Yemeni coast, the availability of escorts and political decisions by the states involved. Information current as at 30 October 2026.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).