Since November, the rebels have
repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s offensive in Gaza. But they have frequently targeted vessels
with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperilling shipping in a key route
for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe.
Maersk reported fourth-quarter profits
below expectations on Thursday 8 Feb and projected 2024 earnings well below
last year’s levels due to an oversupply of container vessels, although
uncertainties persist regarding the impact of disruptions in the Red Sea.
The company anticipates underlying earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to range between $1
billion and $6 billion this year, a
significant decrease from the $9.6 billion achieved last year.