At least seven oil tankers have executed sharp U-turns near Yemen, with several others diverting before entering the Bab al-Mandab Strait, following a declaration of a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia by the Iran-linked Houthi group. Ship-tracking data indicates that all of the affected vessels were either bound for or departing from Saudi ports when they altered their courses after the announcement on Monday.
The Red Sea serves as a critical artery for global maritime trade, facilitating nearly 15% of all sea trade. This vital waterway connects the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Aden through two key choke points: the Suez Canal in Egypt and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, situated between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. The route has become particularly important for Saudi oil exports since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has significantly constrained the flow of oil and gas from the Gulf region. Experts suggest that any further restrictions on trade by the Houthis could lead to a substantial increase in global oil prices.
Among the vessels that changed course was the crude oil tanker Rodos, flagged in Liberia, which was loaded with Saudi crude and departed for India from the Red Sea port of al-Muajiz on Monday evening. After sailing south towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait for approximately nine hours, it executed a U-turn and began heading north. Similarly, the Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Mica departed Saudi Arabia's Jazan port on Monday afternoon, initially heading south before also reversing course. Other diversions include the Marshall Islands-flagged vehicle carrier Liu Jiang Kou, which was en route to Jeddah from China but changed course in the Gulf of Aden, and the Hong Kong-flagged crude oil tanker New Prime, which turned around while heading towards Saudi Arabia and is now reportedly waiting in the Arabian Sea.
While the specific reasons for each vessel's change of course cannot be independently verified, maritime risk management firm Vanguard noted that "the timing is consistent with the embargo announcement." The Houthis, in an email to shipowners seen by the BBC, stated that "vessels are banned from loading or discharging cargo at any Saudi ports" and warned that ships "may be subject to targeting in any location within the operational reach." This move, according to the Houthis, is in retaliation for 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."
The EU's naval force in the region, Operation Aspides, issued an advisory on Wednesday, recommending that "merchant vessels linked to Israeli, US or Saudi interests avoid transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the threat level decreases." This echoes concerns about the potential for broader disruption beyond just Saudi-bound vessels. The Houthis have a history of causing significant disruption in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, particularly following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, when they began attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea.
The ongoing civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014, escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the official government after the Houthis captured the capital of Sana'a. An informal truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has been in place since 2022, but tensions flared last week with Houthi missile launches at a Saudi airport in response to alleged Saudi air strikes on Sana'a airport.