India’s defense ministry is providing security to Indian container ships in international waters around the Red Sea as the situation there continues to simmer, a government source said today.

Ships may face 14-day delays in delivery time due to the longer route which also causes higher freight and insurance costs, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Tankers avoid the Red Sea after Yemen’s Houthi fighters have stepped up maritime attacks on merchant shipsin what they say is a response to Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Danish container shipping giant Maersk announced today that its fleet will transit the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea where it has suspended all transit following attacks by Houthi rebels.

“All Maersk vessels scheduled to transit through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will be rerouted south around the Cape of Good Hope in the near future,” the company said in a statement, clarifying that “all available information confirms that the security risk [στην Ερυθρά Θάλασσα] remains at a fairly high level.”