Several Chinese shipping lines have been redeploying their vessels to serve the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, in what analysts have said is an effort to exploit China’s perceived immunity from the Houthi attacks that have driven most other operators out of the area.These smaller Chinese lines have been serving ports such as Doraleh in Djibouti, Hodeidah in Yemen and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, all of which have faced big falls in traffic as international container shipping lines have rerouted to avoid potential attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Among the shipping lines redeploying its fleet is Qingdao-based Transfar Shipping, which on its website describes itself as “an emerging player in the transpacific market”, offering services between China and the US.

Two of Transfar Shipping’s three vessels, the Zhong Gu Ji Lin and Zhong Gu Shan Dong, are currently operating in the Middle East. Ship-tracking websites show the Zhong Gu Shan Dong came from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal in late December, after many other lines had abandoned the area.