MAERSK ships in US Navy convoy were forced to retreat under Houthi missile attack, which prompted a resumption of an earlier decision to avoid the Red Sea-Suez route, reports Oslo Trade Winds.

MAERSK ships in US Navy convoy were forced to retreat under Houthi missile attack, which prompted a resumption of an earlier decision to avoid the Red Sea-Suez route, reports Oslo Trade Winds.

The 6,200-TEU Maersk Detroit and 2,474-TEU Maersk Chesapeake turned around in the Red Sea and were escorted back to the Gulf of Aden, said the company.

The master of an unidentified ship reported an explosion 100 metres from its starboard side, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said earlier.

US Central Command, which coordinates the country's military operations in the region, said three anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired toward the Maersk Detroit.

One missile hit the sea, while the warship USS Gravely shot down two others.

The two ships were carrying cargo and aid for the US government and were given protection by the navy for the passage through the Bab El-Mandeb strait, said subsidiary Maersk Line Ltd, for which the US military is a major customer on its US-flag ships.

"While en route, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the US Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles," the company said.

"The crew, ship and cargo are safe and unharmed. The US Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them back to the Gulf of Aden."

Maersk Line Ltd said it was suspending transits in the region until further notice because of the escalation of risk.