[경제] (블룸버그) BP, 후티 반군 공격 증가로 인해 홍해 유조선 운항 전면 중단 선언

블룸버그 기사 요약 (ChatGPT)

영국 최대 석유회사인 브리티시페트롤리엄(BP)는 후티 반군의 상선 공격 증가로 인해 홍해를 통한 모든 유조선 운항을 일시 중단한다고 발표했습니다. 이 결정은 이 지역의 악화된 안보 상황에 따른 것입니다. 다른 주요 컨테이너 선박 회사들도 이 지역을 통한 운항을 중단했습니다. 이 중단은 BP가 소유하거나 운영하는 모든 선박에 적용됩니다.

이 조치는 선박들이 수에즈 운하 대신 아프리카 주변을 우회 항해하게 되면서 항해 시간 증가, 화물 배송 지연, 연료비 증가, 선박 수요 증가 등을 초래할 것으로 예상됩니다. 미국과 그 동맹국들은 홍해 안전 확보 계획을 논의하고 있으며, 홍해는 전 세계 해상 무역의 약 12%를 차지하는 중요한 항로입니다. BP는 이 결정에서 상업적 압력보다는 선원들의 안전을 우선적으로 고려했다고 강조했습니다.

지난 2년 동안 유럽이 러시아산 파이프 가스 대체 수단으로 액화천연가스(LNG) 수입을 늘리면서, 수에즈 운하는 글로벌 LNG 무역의 주요 경로로 부상했습니다. 

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BP to Pause All Tanker Transits Through the Red Sea

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-18/bp-to-pause-all-oil-tanker-transits-through-the-red-sea

■ Company cites deteriorating security situation for shipping

■ Several of world’s largest container lines made similar moves

Cargo vessels from the Red Sea in the Suez Canal

Photographer: Camille Delbos/Getty Images

By Rachel Graham

2023년 12월 18일 오후 8:16 GMT+9

Updated on 2023년 12월 18일 오후 8:45 GMT+9

Oil and gas giant BP Plc said it will pause all shipments through the Red Sea following an escalation of attacks on merchant shipping by Houthi militants.

“In light of the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the Red Sea, BP has decided to temporarily pause all transits through the Red Sea,” the company said in a statement. 

Europe’s headline natural gas price surged by as much as 7.9% on the news, which is probably the most concrete sign yet of disruption to energy flows following the attacks. Brent oil futures also rose.

The world’s largest container shipping companies said over the past several days that they would put shipments through the waterway on hold following the wave of attacks. Several tanker owners also said they were insisting on options giving them the right to avoid the area.

“We will keep this precautionary pause under ongoing review, subject to circumstances as they evolve in the region,” BP’s statement said. The decision applies to all the ships that the firm owns and all those it hires.

Avoiding the Red Sea means ships can’t use Egypt’s Suez Canal, forcing them instead to go the long way around Africa. Doing so adds thousands of miles to voyages, delays cargo deliveries and means inflated fuel costs. It also boosts demand for vessels.

A crewing company that puts thousands of crew on ships from a pool of more than 44,000 workers said earlier that it was advising owners to consider alternatives to the Red Sea.

The US and its allies are urgently considering a plan to secure the Red Sea, through which about 12% of global seaborne trade must pass.

BP said that the welfare of its crew is the company’s priority, underscoring that commercial pressures are for now taking a back seat in firm’s decision making.

The canal has emerged as the main route for global LNG trade over the past two years, bolstered by Europe’s appetite for the super-chilled fuel as the main replacement of piped Russia gas.