Chinese Oil Tankers Safely Pass Red Sea Entrance Despite Pro-Iran Houthi Blockade Threat

Bloomberg reported on the 24th, local time, that two Chinese oil tankers carrying Saudi Arabian crude oil safely passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea, even as Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened a blockade.

Citing vessel-tracking data, the media outlet reported that the Xin Rong Yang and the Cosnew Lake, operated by Chinese shipping company COSCO, exited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and were sailing through the Gulf of Aden on the 23rd.

On the 20th, local time, the Houthi rebels warned that any vessel entering or stopping at Saudi ports to load cargo would become a target if it came within their operational range.

On the 23rd, they announced that they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers.

Bloomberg explained that these Chinese oil tankers are the first case of loading Saudi crude and passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following the Houthi warning on the 20th.

It added that to ensure safe passage, the vessels sailed with their transponders turned on, broadcasting information that they were manned by Chinese crew members and owned by a Chinese company.

Following the Houthi blockade threats, vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia's state-owned shipping company Bahri rerouted toward the Suez Canal, while vessels heading to Asia must navigate around the African continent.

In addition, Bloomberg pointed out that fully loaded Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) have drafts that are too deep to pass through the Suez Canal.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.