Saudi Oil Carriers Avoid Bab el-Mandeb Amid Houthi Threat

Six Saudi-flagged Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) have altered their course, avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb route and instead heading south through the Indian Ocean. According to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform, the vessels were initially sailing without cargo after completing previous voyages to Asia.

The tankers, including the Ghinah and Laynah, updated their destinations to Durban, South Africa, while others changed course to Algoa Bay and Port Elizabeth. The Dilam and Hazm initially listed Gibraltar as their destinations before switching to these new routes.

This diversion comes amid increased security concerns after Yemen's Houthi group threatened vessels linked to Saudi ports, prompting some shipowners to reassess voyages through the strategic waterway.