At least five tankers reroute in Red Sea after Houthi warning over Saudi ports

July 25 ------ Several tankers have altered course in the Red Sea after Yemen’s Houthi militia warned vessels against calling at Saudi Arabian ports, raising concerns over further disruption to regional energy flows and maritime trade.

According to Reuters, ship-tracking data showed that at least five tankers changed direction on Wednesday, with two signaling destinations near the Suez Canal. Some vessels that had loaded crude at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port reportedly shifted north towards the canal instead of continuing south towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Iran-aligned Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on 20 July, warning shipping companies not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi ports. Maritime security sources told Reuters that they had received separate warnings from the group targeting vessels travelling to Saudi ports.

Ship broker Clarksons said the threat had already affected tanker activity, with some vessels holding position while awaiting further instructions. Three tankers carrying Saudi crude for China and India also turned back in the Red Sea on 21 July rather than continuing along the Yemeni coast, as reported by Reuters.

The European Union’s Aspides naval mission warned that vessels linked to Israel, the United States or Saudi Arabia face a higher risk of attack and advised operators to avoid voyages through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the security situation improves. Greece’s shipping ministry also issued a warning to national operators, urging coordination with the EU naval mission.

A disruption to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export route could increase pressure on global energy markets, as Yanbu provides an alternative outlet to the Strait of Hormuz through the country’s east-west pipeline. Ship broker Braemar said the situation raised concerns over the viability of eastbound routes from Yanbu.

Rerouting Saudi cargoes through the Suez Canal to Asian buyers could add around 10,000 nautical miles and 34 days to voyages, with estimated additional freight costs exceeding $5 million per shipment, excluding fuel and insurance expenses, Reuters reported. Red Sea traffic has remained below normal levels since Houthi attacks on merchant vessels began in late 2023.

Source: safety4sea.com