Russian oil tanker changes route and bypasses Africa due to threats in the Red Sea

A tanker carrying Russian oil has changed its route after attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

This was reported by Reuters, citing trade sources and data from the LSEG ship tracking system.

The Panamanian-flagged Sea Icon tanker, which is carrying Russian oil to Asia, refused to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and changed its route, choosing a longer route around Africa.

The Suezmax-class vessel loaded at least 100,000 tons of oil in the Russian port of Ust-Luga on July 1. According to one of the agency’s interlocutors, the cargo belongs to NOVATEK, and the tanker itself is under the management of the Kuwaiti Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company.

After attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the second half of July, the vessel changed course. As of early August, the destination in the AIS system is Cape Town, indicating movement around the Cape of Good Hope.

According to a participant in the Russian oil market, more and more tankers carrying cargo for Asian buyers are choosing a roundabout route due to hostilities in the Middle East.

Shipping through Bab el-Mandeb has significantly decreased after the Yemeni Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20 and began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea. Due to the increased risks, carriers are increasingly abandoning the shorter route in favor of a longer, but safer route around Africa.

Earlier it was reported that Saudi Arabia is negotiating the creation of an international coalition to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthis. According to media reports, more than ten countries may join the initiative.

Earlier, USM wrote that the crisis in the Persian Gulf could increase pressure on Russia’s oil revenues.