Video | Violence at sea: how armed attacks on the high seas affect mariners

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking ships travelling through the Red Sea corridor since October 2023. The violence, which the rebels say is a response to the Israel-Gaza war, has disrupted international shipping through a region which had been handling an estimated US$1 trillion worth of goods annually.

Part of Iran’s self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance” against Israeli and US influence in the Middle East, the Houthis maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK. However, many of the vessels hit have little or no connection to the Gaza conflict. Shipping companies have been forced to divert routes or join international naval convoys.

The disruptions also put seafarers at increased risk of pirate attacks elsewhere. So, how has this increased threat of violence affected sailors, and what are shipping companies doing to respond to the problem?