Dark Tanker Transits Rise in Bab el-Mandeb Amid Houthi Threat

Shipping activity in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait continues to adapt to persistent Houthi threats, with a notable increase in 'dark' tanker transits. Recent vessel-tracking data indicates that tankers carrying Saudi crude oil are increasingly navigating this critical chokepoint with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off. This practice, while increasing security risks, is being employed to obscure vessel identity and mitigate potential targeting by Houthi forces. Two specific incidents highlight this trend. The Greece-owned Suezmax tanker Lesvos and the Indian-flagged supertanker Desh Vaibhav, both having loaded Saudi crude at the Red Sea port of Yanbu, reportedly transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait southbound in dark mode. This operational shift underscores the ongoing insecurity in the southern Red Sea and its implications for global energy supply chains. The strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a gateway to the Suez Canal means disruptions here can significantly impact transit times and insurance premiums for Middle Eastern oil exports destined for European and North American markets. The reliance on dark transits suggests that despite international efforts, the perceived risk remains high enough to warrant these evasive maneuvers, reflecting heightened operational costs and potential delays for carriers. This trend further complicates efforts to monitor global oil flows and assess real-time supply dynamics.