Yemeni Naval Blockade Forces Saudis to Reroute Shipping Around Africa
The Yemeni naval blockade on Saudi Arabia has entered its second month, and the results are clear: it's having a significant impact on Saudi navigation. The blockade, which began on July 20, has forced Saudi cargo ships and oil tankers to avoid crossing the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and instead sail around the Cape of Good Hope.
According to tracking data, 12 Saudi ships and tankers sailed around Africa in the last two weeks, after several attempts to change and hide their destinations on the Automatic Identification System. The Yemeni Armed Forces have targeted eight oil tankers so far, with 48 other Saudi tankers changing course due to the blockade.
The blockade has also led to a shift in tactics by Saudi navigation, which is now relying heavily on concealment and rerouting ships and shipments. This new approach has become the 'new normal' for Saudi shipping, according to analysts.
Despite some claims that China had obtained special privileges from Sana'a to continue dealing with Saudi ports, reports indicate that Chinese giant shipping companies COSCO and China Merchants have stopped sending supertankers through Bab Al-Mandeb. Japan's second-largest oil refinery has also taken steps to avoid the strait.
The targeting of a ship carrying weapons for Saudi-backed forces in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait on August 11 marked a significant development, highlighting the blockade's impact on military activities in the region. The destruction of more ships linked to coalition-related military activities will likely make shipping and insurance companies even more cautious about connections to the Kingdom and its ports.