2024.01.30 外刊双语精读 船运：穷困潦倒(7).docx

【1.30】

1.30每日一篇双语精读

shipping：Straitenedout

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Ablowtoglobaltradeisa?boon?for?shipping?companies

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【1】UntiltheSuez?canal?openedin?1869,?merchant?shipsintheRedSeamostlycarriedcoffee,?spices?and?slaves.The?waterway?changedeverything.Sofarin?2023?around?24,000?vessels?havepliedthepassage,accountingforsome?10%ofglobal?seaborne?tradeby?volume,accordingtoClarksons,a?shipbroker.That?includes?20%oftheworld’s?container?traffic,nearly?10%of?seaborne?oiland?8%of?liquefied?naturalgas.

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【2】So?missile?and?drone?attacksbyHouthi?militants?inYemenonshipspassingthroughthenarrow?strait?ofBabal-Mandab,which?connects?theRedSeatotheGulfofAden,?apparently?insupportofPalestiniansinGaza,looklikethelatestblowtothe?shipping?industry—andtoitscustomers.Ithasstruckjustasbothgroupstrytoreturnto?normality?aftertheupheavalsofthe?pandemic?and,morerecently,troubleswhichincludea?drought?thathas?restricted?large?vessels?frompassingthroughthePanama?canal?forseveralmonths.

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【3】AdozenHouthiattacksinrecentweeksandfourmoreonDecember?18thposean?unacceptable?dangerto?shipping.?container?firmsaccountingforsome?95%ofthe?capacity?thatusually?crosses?Suez,includinggiantslikeSwiss-basedMSCandDenmark’sMaersk,have?suspended?servicesinthearea.Afewenergyfirms,suchasBPandEquinor,havealso?temporarily?stoppedtheirshipsfromusingthe?canal.Aswhentheroutewas?disrupted?in?2021?afterEverGiven,a?giant?container?ship,ran?aground?andblockedthe?canal?forsixdays,?shipping?companies?arealreadyrerouting?vessels?aroundAfrica.Thiswillextend?journeys?fromaround?31?to?40?daysbetweenAsiaandNorthernEurope,?reckons?Clarksons.Unlesstheroutecansafely?reopen,?delays?andthe?inevitable?disruption?atportsas?vessels?arriveoutof?schedule?willcreate?disorder?inthecomingmonths.

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【4】Still,thisSuezcrisiswillnot“putacorkinglobaltrade”,saysLarsJense