ALERTS & ​ADVISORIES

Customer Advisory: Red Sea Attacks and Suez Canal Bypass

By
December 18, 2023
Container Ship
Container Ship

Current Situation

The Red Sea is a vital global trade waterway connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. However, it is also a hotspot for geopolitical tensions, piracy, and armed attacks. In the past few weeks, several incidents have disrupted maritime traffic and raised security concerns in the area. This is claimed to be a consequence of the Israel / Palestine conflict, which sees attacks on Commercial vessels thought to be headed for Israel.

  • At the beginning of December, several attacks happened on both Navy vessels and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This has evolved into targeted attacks on commercial Container carriers in the last week.
  • On December 14th, Maersk Gibraltar, a Hong Kong-flagged Container vessel owned by Maersk, was involved in a near-miss missile attack in the Bab al-Mandab strait in the Red Sea
  • On December 15th, Al Jasrah, a Liberian-flagged Container vessel owned by Hapag Lloyd, was attacked and hit by a missile fired from Yemen in the Bab Al-Mandab strait. The vessel sustained damage on the port side, and at least one container fell overboard. No crew was reported injured in this incident.
  • On December 15th, the MSC Alanya, a Liberian-flagged Container vessel owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company, was also involved in a near-miss missile attack.
  • On December 15th, the MSC Palatium III, a Liberian-flagged Container vessel, sub chartered to Messina Line, was struck by a missile attack, causing limited fire damage. All crew members are reported safe, and the vessel has been removed from service.

These incidents have increased the risk of shipping in the region, and we have seen action taken by most of the world's largest container carriers (VOCCs) to mitigate the risk for their employees and vessels operating in these waters.

Carrier Responses

Below is a recap of the current situation as announced by carriers as of today; however, the situation is very fluid and can change quickly:

  • Maersk announced on Friday, December 15th, that it would reroute some of its vessels scheduled to transit the Suez Canal to now go via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, adding several days to the transit time.
  • CMA CGM announced on Sunday, December 17th, that it would reroute some of its vessels scheduled to transit the Suez Canal to now go via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, adding several days to the transit time.
  • HAPAG-LLOYD announced on Friday, December 15th, that it suspended all sailings through the Red Sea until further notice.
  • MSC announced on Sunday, December 17th, that it would reroute some of its vessels scheduled to transit the Suez Canal to now go via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, adding several days to the transit time.
  • Other Carriers have made similar statements about bypassing or avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Like ONE, ZIM, yang Ming, and HMM.
  • Evergreen, COSCO, and OOCL have stopped accepting cargo to Israel with immediate effect and until further notice; however, there are no statements yet on suspending service through the Red Sea.

Going Forward

This conflict will have massive implications on Global trade, and all shippers should expect severe delays, vessels out of place for weeks or months to come, and significantly increased costs on all services transiting the Red Sea. The full scope of implications is unclear, but we at JAS will do our utmost to keep you updated on the situation as it unfolds and work with all customers and partners to provide the best solutions possible.

For any questions and concerns, please contact your local JAS office.


Thank you.

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Parker Hannifin has recognized JAS with its International Freight Forwarder of the Year award for 2025

Once again, Parker Hannifin has recognized JAS with its International Freight Forwarder of the Year award for 2025. Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies, serves a wide range of industries including aerospace, climate control, filtration, and automation. The company highlighted JAS’s cybersecurity and sustainability efforts, on-time delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement as key reasons for selecting JAS as this year’s recipient.

This marks the third time JAS has been honored with this award, having previously received the recognition in 2017 and 2020. Being named  International Freight Forwarder of the Year once again underscores JAS’s ongoing commitment to delivering customer value, consistent partnership, and excellence in global logistics solutions.

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We would like to remind our customers of the implementation of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2), the European Union’s enhanced pre-arrival safety and security program for cargo entering or transiting through EU Member States, as well as Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland. Effective 1 September 2025, ICS2 became mandatory across all modes of transport—air, ocean, road, and rail. This regulation requires the submission of detailed shipment data via an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) prior to cargo arrival at the EU border.

What You Need to Know ICS2 is designed to:

  • Strengthen EU border security
  • Enable early risk assessment
  • Facilitate legitimate trade
  • Prevent delays and penalties due to non-compliance

Your Responsibilities as a Shipper or Cargo Owner

To ensure compliance and avoid disruptions, please take note of the following obligations:

Data Submission Requirements

You must provide:

  • A complete and accurate commercial description of each item
  • A valid Harmonized System (HS) code, consisting of at least six digits—though in many cases, EU customs may require eight digits or the full tariff code.
  • A valid Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number for the EU consignee/importer (and for other parties in the EU where applicable)
  • Full details of all parties involved (seller, buyer, consignor, consignee)

Filing Responsibilities

  • Freight Forwarders/NVOCCs: File ENS at the house bill level.
  • Carriers: File ENS at the master bill level.
  • Consignees: Provide valid EORI numbers to ensure accurate filing.

Non-Compliance Risks Failure to comply with ICS2 requirements may lead to:

  • Shipments being delayed, rejected, or held at EU borders
  • Customs inspections and possible administrative penalties
  • Additional costs related to storage or missed deliveries

Recommended Actions to prepare for ICS2 compliance:

  • Audit your product master data for HS codes and descriptions
  • Standardize commercial invoices and packing lists
  • Validate and integrate EORI numbers into your systems
  • Establish clear communication protocols with your logistics partners
  • Ensure complete shipment data is provided to your freight forwarder in time for ENS filing (e.g., at least 24 hours before vessel loading for ocean freight).

Technology & Support

In response to the EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) requirements, we want to reassure our customers that our experienced staff and systems are fully prepared to manage the necessary data submissions and compliance procedures on your behalf. To support this service and ensure the smooth processing of your shipments, a compliance handling fee will apply. This fee covers the administrative effort and data validation to meet the latest EU regulations efficiently and accurately.


We are also investing in digital tools and customs platforms to automate data validation and submission, reducing manual errors and ensuring timely compliance. If you have any questions or would like guidance on preparing your shipment data, please contact your JAS account representative.

JAS has been awarded a Silver Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, achieving a score of 75 points.

JAS has been awarded a Silver Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, achieving a score of 75 points. This marks a 15-point improvement from last year’s Bronze rating and places JAS among the top 15% of companies assessed globally.

EcoVadis is one of the world’s most trusted providers of business sustainability ratings, evaluating over 130,000 companies across four categories: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.

In the latest assessment, JAS received particularly strong recognition in the Environment category (91/100), reflecting our focus on decarbonization, responsible resource use, and advancing sustainable logistics solutions. JAS also recorded solid progress in Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, showing how JAS is working to embed responsible practices across its global operations and supply chain.

Andrea Goeman, SVP Sustainability, JAS, commented:

“We are proud to see our progress recognized with the EcoVadis Silver Medal. This achievement reflects the collaboration across our global teams and our strong commitment to building a more sustainable future for our customers, partners, and communities. While this is an important milestone, we will continue to strengthen our practices to further improve our performance in the years ahead.”

With a score of 75 points, JAS now ranks in the 92nd percentile of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. This performance not only supports many of our customers’ supplier selection and evaluation processes, but also highlights the steady progress we are making year over year.

As JAS continues its sustainability journey, the company remains focused on driving measurable improvements across its operations and working closely with customers and partners to reduce environmental impact and achieve shared sustainability goals.

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