Gram Car Carriers, the world’s third-largest tonnage provider for car carriers, is banning its ships from sailing through the Red Sea.
The risk of becoming the target of attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militia in the Red Sea is prompting more and more shipping companies to avoid the region. So far, container shipping companies in particular have made headlines with their announcements of route changes. Tankers and LNG freighters are also being diverted. Now the world’s third-largest provider of car carrier tonnage (PCTC), Gram Car Carriers, is following suit. [ds_preview]
In a statement today, the shipping company explained that it places “the utmost importance on the safety of its crew, cargo and vessels”. The charterers have therefore been informed that the Gram ships will not be allowed to sail through the Red Sea until further notice. “The reason for this is the increased risk in this area, which is reflected in the fact that the Norwegian Maritime Authority has raised the security level for the southern part of the Red Sea to the highest level,” it says.
According to the shipping company, the situation is being closely monitored and this policy will be reviewed and updated if necessary on the basis of recommendations from the relevant authorities.
Gram Car Carriers claims to be the world’s third-largest tonnage provider for Pure Car Truck Carriers (PCTC) with 20 vessels in the feeder, mid-sized and Panamax segments. The main shareholders are two German companies – Nikolaus H. Schües’ F. Laeisz shipping company and the Bunnemann family.
