Three months ago, Houthi fighters from Yemen hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea and took the crew captive. It was the group’s first attack on commercial shipping in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Around 30 similar assaults have followed and the US and UK have retaliated with air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The Houthi attacks have wreaked havoc with shipping in the Red Sea, forcing hundreds of ships to re-route and make the much longer journey around the bottom of Africa. Supply chains have been interrupted and insurance costs have risen for vessels still passing through the area.
With no end to the tension in the region in sight, some companies are readjusting their timelines and accepting that the current situation might become the “new normal”. We ask whether the Houthi attacks have changed the way we move goods around the world for ever.
(Picture: Ships crossing the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Presented and produced by Gideon Long
China's rising youth unemployment: Part 2
China's rising youth unemployment: Part 1
Business Daily meets: The rum distillers
Business Daily meets: Mattel's CEO
Business Daily meets: Sir Robin Millar
Business Daily meets: Kelly Hoppen
Business Daily meets: The founders of Seatfrog
The price for Mexican heritage
Rebuilding Turkey after the earthquake
Is it possible to grow food on the Moon?
Working at altitude
Is France leading the way on nuclear?
European Para Championships: A new sporting event
Business daily meets: Janelle Jones
The chocolate village
The new Panama Canal?
Is Georgia benefitting from Russian money?
Women's football: Life after retirement
Women’s football boots: A bad fit?
Women's football in South America
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Global News Podcast
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins