At least seven oil tankers have performed sharp U-turns in waters near Yemen following the announcement of a maritime embargo by the Iran-linked Houthi group on Monday. Ship-tracking data confirms that all affected vessels, which were either en route to or departing from Saudi ports, changed course shortly after the embargo was publicized.
The Red Sea serves as a critical artery for global commerce, facilitating nearly 15% of international sea trade. It connects the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aden through two primary choke points: the Suez Canal in Egypt and the Bab al-Mandab Strait located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
The route has gained heightened importance for Saudi oil exports since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz, severely restricting the movement of oil and gas from the Gulf.
Rosemary Kelanic, a researcher at the US-based Defense Priorities think tank, warned that the Houthi blockade could have significant economic consequences. She noted that while the current route has played a major role in relieving pressure on global markets, further restrictions on trade would inevitably cause prices to rise.
Kelanic further cautioned that any Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden would likely suppress all international traffic, not just those bound for Saudi Arabia.
Maritime intelligence firm Kpler reported that in the 24 hours preceding the blockade announcement, 20 vessels entered the Red Sea, while 22 exited via the Bab al-Mandeb strait. In response to the escalating situation, the EU's naval force in the region, Aspides, recommended on Wednesday that merchant vessels linked to US, Israeli, or Saudi interests avoid transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until the threat level decreases.
Specific vessel movements illustrate the disruption. The Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker Rodos, which had loaded Saudi crude at the port of al-Muajiz, was heading south toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Monday evening before making a U-turn nine hours later to sail north.
Similarly, the Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Mica departed Saudi Arabia's Jazan port on Monday afternoon, headed south, and subsequently reversed course.
Data indicates that at least eight other ships bound for the Red Sea also performed U-turns to avoid entering the Bab al-Mandab Strait from the south.
Additional examples include the Marshall Islands-flagged vehicle carrier Liu Jiang Kou, which was traveling from China to Jeddah but changed course in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. The Hong Kong-flagged crude oil tanker New Prime, also sailing from China toward Saudi Arabia, turned around and is currently reported to be waiting in the Arabian Sea.
Vanguard, a maritime risk management company, stated that while individual reasons for these course changes cannot be independently verified, the timing is consistent with the embargo announcement.
In an email sent to shipowners on Monday, the Houthis declared that vessels are banned from loading or discharging cargo at any Saudi ports and warned that ships could be subject to targeting within their operational reach. The group stated the embargo is a retaliatory measure against a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has condemned these allegations and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law.
Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has diverted over 70% of its crude exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu via an east-west pipeline. Kpler and Signal Ocean data show that approximately four million barrels per day have been shipped from Yanbu in recent weeks, up from roughly 973,000 a year ago.
Naveen Das, a senior oil analyst at Kpler, explained that if the Bab al-Mandab Strait is effectively closed, the only remaining option for Saudi oil would be to transport it through the Mediterranean and around the southern tip of Africa to reach Asia.
Das added that while the impact on consumers may not be immediate, the current geopolitical climate has left the global energy system vulnerable, noting that higher freight rates and energy costs could eventually bleed into consumer prices.
As a precaution, at least 50 vessels in the region are currently broadcasting that they have armed guards on board. Martin Kelly of the EOS Risk Group emphasized the dangers, noting that captains fear the Houthis might misinterpret their situation and assume a ship has called at a Saudi port in the past, leading to an attack.
He warned that for large crude oil carriers, the resulting damage would be catastrophic, with a high likelihood of fatalities onboard.
Houthi fighters during a protest against Saudi Arabia in Yemen's capital Sana'a on 17 July
Yemen has been devastated by a civil war since 2014, when the Houthis captured the capital of Sana'a from the government. The conflict escalated in 2015, after a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened to try and restore the official government.
Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.