- Despite warnings, over 100 vessels, including oil tankers, persist in transiting the Red Sea, underscoring increased regional risks.
- Industry advice to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait due to recent strikes on Houthi targets has led to a notable drop in Red Sea route usage in the past month.
- Maritime trade faces challenges amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Shipping Industry Diverting Routes Amid Middle East Tensions
In response to escalating tensions off Yemen, the shipping industry has witnessed a significant reduction in vessels traversing the Red Sea/Suez Canal route. The U.S. and UK navies’ advisory to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has prompted major shipping and tanker groups, including the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko), to instruct their members to steer clear of the area.
Over 100 Ships Defy Advisory, Continue Transit Despite Heightened Risks
Despite warnings and the recent U.S. and UK strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, more than 100 commercial vessels, including oil tankers, have persisted in using the Red Sea route. This defiance of advisories has occurred amid escalating tensions in the region, marked by an anti-ship missile fired at a U.S. Navy vessel and an attack on a U.S.-owned merchant ship, emphasizing the heightened risks faced by ships navigating these turbulent waters.
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Source: Oil Price
