Six Saudi flagged tankers abandon the Bab el-Mandeb route and sail around Africa

Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday 4 August 2026 that six Saudi flagged very large crude carriers sailing in ballast have turned away from the Bab el-Mandeb route and are heading south through the Indian Ocean.

Ship tracking platform MarineTraffic said the first automatic identification system destination changes for five of the six vessels were recorded on 30 July. The Ghinah and Laynah updated their destinations to Durban in South Africa, the Burqan first signalled Durban before switching to Algoa Bay and later Port Elizabeth, while the Dilam and Hazm initially listed Gibraltar, with the Hazm changing to Durban at 2220 GMT on 31 July. The sixth tanker, the Salam, was also signalling a South African destination.

The longer route around the Cape of Good Hope adds at least two weeks to a voyage compared with passage through Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea. The diversions follow threats by Yemen's Houthis against vessels linked to Saudi ports.