Chinese Tankers Dodge Houthi Blockade in Red Sea
Two Chinese supertankers carrying four million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil successfully navigated through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, evading a blockade imposed by Yemen's Houthi militias.
The Xin Long Yang and Cosnew Lake, both Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), had made U-turns earlier in their journey due to the blockade, but were able to resume their route southward after pausing in the Red Sea. The Xin Long Yang is heading to the port of Qinzhou in southern Guangxi province, while Cosnew Lake is expected to discharge its cargo at the port of Huizhou in southern China's Guangdong province.
The blockade, which has worsened global energy supply disruption, comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed due to renewed fighting between the US and Iran. Shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb declined significantly on Wednesday, with only 27 vessels crossing the strait, including five oil tankers.
The Saudi Arabian news agency SPA reported that a Saudi vessel, Encelia, was attacked in the Red Sea and was on fire, but its crew was safe. The attack highlights the growing tensions in the region and the risks to global energy supplies.