Moller-Maersk, the second-largest global ocean carrier, is advising customers to prepare for a Red Sea crisis that could stretch well into the second half of this year. "Unfortunately, we don't see any change in the Red Sea happening anytime soon," Charles van der Steene, regional president for Maersk North America, tells CNBC. After attacks on two U.S.-flagged Maersk vessels on January 24, the Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake, Maersk Line, Limited — a U.S. subsidiary of Maersk, which operates U.S.-flagged vessels independently — announced it would no longer traverse the Red Sea. The global shipping and logistics company's cautious view of the Red Sea safety conditions comes despite a U.S.-led multinational military operation in the region, Operation Prosperity Guardian. "Our advice to our customers is specifically about building upon the uncertainty by being agile," said van der Steene.

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Persons: Ebba, A.P ., Kristian Helgesen, Moller, Charles van der, Good Hope, der Steene, Maersk, van der, van der Steene, van der Steen, Panama hasn't, we're Organizations: A.P, A.P . Moeller, Maersk, Bloomberg, Getty, Maersk North, CNBC, Maersk Detroit, Maersk Chesapeake, Prosperity, U.S, Gaza, Maritime Security Program, VISA, Voluntary Intermodal, U.S ., Intelligence, East, Oceania Locations: Suez, Egypt, Maersk North America, Gulf, Aden, Hangzhou, Maersk, U.S, Good, Asia, Limited's U.S, West Coast, East Coast ., East Coast, Cape Hope, Panama, Ports, Mexico, Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles, Long, China, Australia, New Zealand