Several merchant vessels have changed course after the Houthis warned they could target ships calling at Saudi Arabian ports, providing the first signs that the group’s expanded maritime threat is already affecting commercial shipping.
Ship-tracking data shows that several crude tankers altered their routes after departing or preparing to call at Saudi ports. The Singapore-flagged VLCC Xin Long Yang, loaded with crude for China, reversed course in the Red Sea. The Liberia-flagged tanker Rodos, also sailing from Yanbu, diverted towards Port Suez, while MV New Prime abandoned its approach to Yanbu and turned away before entering the Red Sea.
More vessels adjusted their voyages on 22 July, including the vehicle carrier Liu Jiang Kou, the product tanker Navig8 Express, the Suezmax tankers Amazon and Agios Gerasimos, and the tanker Mica. Some reversed course, while others diverted to alternative ports or changed loading plans.
The route changes followed warnings sent by the Houthi Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre (HOCC), which told shipping companies that vessels trading to or from Saudi ports could face military action.
Despite the diversions, merchant traffic through the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) in the Gulf of Aden and southern Red Sea has remained relatively stable. Most vessels continue to transit the route while closely monitoring the security situation.
However, security advisers warn that the threat is growing. Industry reports say the Houthis have positioned missiles and drones capable of striking merchant ships in the Bab el-Mandeb area. The European Union’s Operation ASPIDES has reportedly advised vessels linked to Saudi Arabia, the United States or Israel to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden where possible.
