Gram Car Carriers tells charterers that Red Sea passage for vessels restricted

Norway´s Gram Car Carriers ASA (GCC), a large tonnage provider within the pure car truck carriers (PCTCs) segment with 19 owned vessels, tells charterers to stay out of Red Sea as the Norwegian Maritime Authority raises the security to the highest level 3.

Gram Car Carriers restricts Red Sea passage as it prioritises the safety of its crew, cargo and vessels. 

The company has notified charterers that its vessels are restricted from passing through the Red Sea for the time being.

This is due to the increased risk levels in the area as reflected in the Norwegian Maritime Authority raising the security level in the southern part of the Red Sea to the highest level. 

GCC says that it monitors the situation closely and will review and update this policy when appropriate based on recommendations from relevant authorities. 

The Norwegian Maritime Authority raises the security level in the southern part of the Red Sea to the highest level, level 3, amid Yemen’s Houthi attacks on vessels.

It was explained that level 3 means operational restrictions will be put into place, while transit will be discouraged.

Alert level bans Norwegian-flag ships from calling at ports in the geographical area covered by security level 3.

Although sailing through the area is still possible if deemed justifiable by the shipping company, the Norwegian Maritime Authority recommends avoiding such traffic until the situation changes.

“Security level 3 implies that Norwegian-registered ships are not permitted to call at ports in the geographical area covered by security level 3. There is a clear pattern of incidents demonstrating that Houthi insurgents have information and capability to hit vessels that have a connection to Israel,” it is said in a statement by the authority.

As it is mentioned, there may be a risk of wrong intelligence or wrong target selection, which in the worst case could hit random vessels.

It is also reported that there is a general sea mine threat south of Hodeidah along the coast of Yemen in the southern part of the Red Sea that may affect merchant vessels.