What Is Happening at Yanbu Port?
Yanbu Port is recording peak crude loading activity despite Houthi maritime threats. According to satellite imagery captured by the European Union's Sentinel 2 satellite on Saturday, five very large crude carriers (VLCCs) were simultaneously berthed at Yanbu's oil-loading terminals — potentially the highest single-day concentration of vessels since the Houthi blockade was declared. Because Sentinel 2 only overflies the area every few days, the full picture of activity at the port remains subject to revision as additional data becomes available.
Yanbu's strategic importance has grown significantly since the Iran war disrupted Strait of Hormuz traffic. Saudi Arabia bypassed the Hormuz chokepoint by routing millions of barrels per day through an overland pipeline to the Red Sea, making Yanbu the kingdom's primary crude export gateway. A single VLCC carries approximately 2 million barrels of crude.
Which Tankers Are Sailing Dark Through Bab el-Mandeb?
Multiple tankers carrying Yanbu-loaded Saudi crude have transited Bab el-Mandeb with AIS transponders switched off to reduce exposure to Houthi targeting. According to analytics firms Vortexa and Kpler, the Greek-owned Suezmax Lesvos and the India-flagged VLCC Desh Vaibhav both made the transit over the weekend with transponders off after loading Saudi crude at Yanbu. Ship-tracking data confirms both vessels subsequently reappeared in waters off Oman, having previously broadcast positions near the Red Sea port.
Separately, a Taiwanese-owned supertanker also transited the chokepoint dark, though Bloomberg News could not immediately confirm whether the vessel was laden or empty.
How Are Houthi Threats Reshaping Saudi Crude Export Routes?
The Houthi threat has fragmented Saudi Arabia's export routing strategy into at least three distinct paths. Some Saudi tankers are taking the significantly longer route around Africa's Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea entirely. Others are diverting Asia-bound crude flows westward to Egypt's Sidi Kerir terminal on the Mediterranean coast. A third group continues to transit Bab el-Mandeb — but dark, with transponders disabled, to minimize targeting risk.
Not all vessels are avoiding the strait. Ships carrying Russian crude continue to transit Bab el-Mandeb openly. According to Kpler data, between Friday and Sunday, 75 commodity vessels crossed Bab el-Mandeb in total. Russian crude dominated outbound flows, while two Saudi crude shipments, one Algerian cargo, and one Sudanese delivery transited dark.
A Houthi-run unit that claims to manage vessel movements through the strait has rejected reports that the group intends to charge ships for passage, stating that transits will remain free of charge.
What Is the Current Security Situation at the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz presents serious and immediate safety risks for shipowners. Late last week, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker carrying a Qatari shipment was struck by a projectile while transiting the strait — a direct illustration of the physical dangers now facing commercial vessels in the region. On the same day, a crude carrier reported a near-miss in the same waterway. By Monday, observable traffic through Hormuz was scarce.
Despite the security risks, crude is continuing to flow out of the Persian Gulf — largely on tankers with transponders switched off. On Friday alone, more than 8.4 million barrels exited the gulf, representing one of the highest single-day outflows recorded since the Iran war began at the end of February, according to ship-tracking data.
Between Friday and Sunday, 34 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in either direction, according to Kpler data, which may be revised as additional information becomes available. The UK Maritime Trade Operations additionally reported on Sunday that the master of a tanker had heard an explosion near a vessel close to Oman's coastline.
Key Shipping Developments at a Glance
Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman:
- 34 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz between Friday and Sunday (Kpler, subject to revision)
- A Qatari LNG tanker was struck by a projectile transiting Hormuz on Saturday
- A crude carrier reported a near-miss entering the gulf on the same day
- The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a tanker master hearing an explosion near Oman's coastline on Sunday
Southern and Northern Red Sea:
- 75 commodity vessels crossed Bab el-Mandeb between Friday and Sunday
- Russian crude dominated outbound Red Sea flows
- Two Saudi crude shipments, one Algerian cargo, and one Sudanese delivery transited dark
- A Taiwanese-owned supertanker also transited dark; laden status unconfirmed
Copyright: gCaptain | Reporting by Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, published under license. © 2026 Bloomberg L.P.
