Euronav ships will avoid Red Sea 'until further notice'

Belgian shipping company Euronav is following the example of several other major shipowners and will avoid the Red Sea "until further notice". The company is closely monitoring safety in the region. "The safety of our crew and our ships comes first," the company said on Monday.

Houthi rebels are increasingly targeting container ships sailing through the Red Sea from Yemen. The rebels support the radical Palestinian organisation Hamas in the war with Israel and bombard vessels with rockets.

Oil giant BP has also halted routes in the Red Sea, as have Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM.

^{© BELGA PHOTO HAND OUT EURONAV}