- UN-funded tanker VLCC Yemen is now under Houthi operational control and used for fuel storage and sales.
- At least three ship-to-ship transfers, including Russian gasoil, have been conducted to support Houthi fuel distribution.
- Despite funding the crew, the UNDP has no power to stop the Houthis’ sanctioned oil trade via the vessel.
The Houthis have taken operational control of a supertanker purchased by the United Nations in 2023 to avert a looming environmental disaster off Yemen’s coast, reports Marine Insight.
The vessel was originally intended to offload over one million barrels of crude oil from the decrepit FSO, which posed a major ecological risk. While legal ownership of the tanker lies with SEPOC (Yemen’s state oil company), the Houthis now control the ship’s operations and have repurposed it as a floating fuel storage facility in the Red Sea.
Houthis Weaponize UN-Funded Tanker
Since the transfer, the supertanker has reportedly been involved in at least three ship-to-ship fuel operations, including one with a Russian-origin gasoil cargo. Smaller tankers have been seen offloading fuel at Houthi-controlled ports, where it’s further distributed or processed despite the absence of proper refining infrastructure. These activities not only bypass international sanctions but also strengthen the Houthis’ fuel supply chain and economic grip over northern Yemen.
Although the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continues to fund the vessel’s crewing costs—around $450,000 per month—it has no authority over the tanker’s operations. UNDP has formally protested the misuse of the ship but lacks the legal means to enforce sanctions compliance or halt the repurposing. As the Houthis continue maritime attacks in the Red Sea and maintain fuel flows via the tanker, the international community now faces serious questions about the unintended consequences of humanitarian interventions.
Did you subscribe to our Daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Marine Insight
