On the 3rd, UK-based maritime analytics company Windward released vessel tracking data showing that six Saudi Arabian oil tankers are currently heading towards the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, avoiding the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea route, in order to circumvent security risks posed by Yemen’s 'Houthi Movement' to vessels associated with Saudi Arabia.
The company’s analysis indicates that for some oil tankers bound for the United States, rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope will add approximately 6 to 7 days to their journey compared to the direct route via the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Windward believes that all six oil tankers choosing to reroute while in ballast may be a general Saudi Arabian operational policy to keep its vessels out of relevant waters, rather than a temporary measure targeting risks to specific cargoes.
Recently, the security situation for shipping in the Red Sea has remained tense. The 'Houthi Movement' has repeatedly announced attacks on ships linked to Saudi Arabia, forcing some ship operators to adjust their routes.