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New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Red Sea Passage Remains a No-Go for Shipping Despite U.S. Action
The largest commercial shipping companies continue to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal, despite a recent cease-fire agreement between the United States and Houthis intended to make the trade lanes safer. The cease-fire, which began May 6, ended a U.S. campaign that involved over 1,100 strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and became a source of embarrassment for the Trump administration after group chats about the strikes inadvertently became public. The Pentagon had planned on a monthslong bombardment, but President Trump ended it after about 50 days. 'If the intention was to restore freedom of navigation, which is what they stated it was, then the results speak for themselves: The shipping industry has not gone back,' said Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd's List, a shipping publication. Ship traffic through the Red Sea is down by around three-fifths since 2023 when the Houthis started targeting ships there in solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza, Mr. Meade said. Fearing that their vessels would be struck, big shipping companies avoided the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, taking a much longer route around the southern tip of Africa to travel between Asia and Europe. The Houthis have said they are still at war with Israel and will attack vessels bound for the country. And though the Houthis have not attacked a commercial vessel since December, shipping companies say they worry that their vessels may be hit, deliberately or mistakenly, and have no plans to sail the southern part of the Red Sea anytime soon. 'We're pretty far from the threshold,' said Vincent Clerc, the chief executive of A.P. Moller-Maersk, a large shipping line based in Copenhagen. Speaking soon after the cease-fire in May, he said the Red Sea would have to remain safe for the foreseeable future before the company's vessels returned. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
12-04-2025
- BBC News
Vintage Margate seafront telescope on display at hotel
A seafront telescope which is almost 100 years old has become the latest artefact to go on display at a hotel in east Kent. Fred Shelley used his telescope to log ships passing by Margate from the 1930s to the 1960s. It has now gone on show at the Walpole Bay Hotel museum in Cliftonville close to the clifftop spot where it used to stand. Jane Bishop, hotel owner, said she was "honoured" to put the item on display in her reception. She said: "Fred's relatives came and stayed at the hotel and decided the telescope should form part of the museum's collection of artefacts." Felicity Walker, Mr Shelley's great niece, said: "Fred set up the Walpole Bay Shipping Spotters Club in the 1930s to encourage boys into a seafaring career."He charged holidaymakers a small fee to look at the ships whilst he told them about them. Ms Walker said: "By looking up Lloyds List every day he would know what ships were going around the foreland."He was able to inform viewers about the country of origin and goods on board."Mr Walker, a trained watch and clock repairer, lived into his 90s. The telescope is the latest of over 1,000 artefacts placed around the corridors of the free on display include old typewriters, vacuum cleaners, clothing and vintage milk bottles. Ms Bishop said: "Our museum is here to preserve the past and allow our visitors to reminisce."It brings back memories of the olden days, but is also a great educational tool for children."
