Two Saudi crude-laden tankers transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait without transponders amid persistent Houthi threats to Red Sea shipments.
Two tankers carrying Saudi crude oil sailed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with their transponders turned off, vessel-tracking data showed. The vessels, a Greece-owned Suezmax and an Indian-flagged supertanker, loaded oil at Yanbu before navigating the chokepoint in dark mode.
The transit follows ongoing Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping, which have disrupted global trade routes. Earlier this month, similar incidents prompted rerouting of vessels, increasing transit times and insurance costs for Middle East oil exports.
No immediate market reaction was reported, though persistent security risks could tighten supply concerns if disruptions escalate.