Container ship. Illustration. (Photo: Boy_Folio/Shutterstock)
The increasingly tightening and expanding blockade imposed on the Red Sea area by Iran-backed Houthi rebels has forced many companies to reroute around the African continent. This means Europe-Asia shippers need many more ships to call at all the needed ports, which they don't have, according to maritime news site gCaptain.
The Red Sea blockade has meant longer shipping times and increased strain on existing fleets for the Europe-Asia route, as the number of ships required from 321 to 376 - while the current service providers only have 340 between them.
This means increased strain on existing fleets, understaffing, and an end to things like wayport calls at Mediterranean ports in exchange for larger ships offloading at larger ports.