Houthi missile strikes Saudi oil giant’s VLCC 1,000km from Yemen
A Saudi-owned very large crude carrier (VLCC) was struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Yanbu in the northern Red Sea on August 24, marking an expansion of Houthi attacks into one of Saudi Arabia’s key alternative oil export routes.
The 320,926-deadweight tonnage Amzan, a Saudi-flagged vessel built in 2014, was hit approximately 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that the attack caused a fire on the main deck, though all crew members were unharmed and no environmental pollution was detected. The state-owned shipping company Bahri confirmed the incident, stating it was working with authorities to assess the situation.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree later announced that the group had targeted the Amzan with a ballistic missile, framing the attack as part of its declared blockade on Saudi-linked shipping. The specific type of weapon used has not been independently verified.
Houthi claims and impact on Saudi oil exports: houthi attacks
Yanbu, located about 1,000 kilometers north of the Houthis’ primary operational zones in Yemen, has emerged as a critical hub for Saudi crude exports amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Recent figures show that oil shipments through Yanbu surged to 3.8 million barrels per day as Riyadh redirected cargoes away from the strait. However, since the Houthis imposed their ban on Saudi port traffic on July 20, tanker traffic at Yanbu has declined by over a third.
In response to the escalating threat, Saudi Arabia has begun rerouting some VLCCs through the northern Red Sea. Certain vessels now offload part of their cargo at Egypt’s Ain Sukhna, transit the Suez Canal, and reload via the Sumed pipeline at Sidi Kerir. While this alternative route increases transit time and costs, it reduces exposure to Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea.
Las autoridades saudíes y egipcias mantendrán reuniones técnicas esta semana para evaluar la viabilidad operativa de la ruta alternativa. Según fuentes citadas, se prevé un informe preliminar el 15 de agosto, mientras que el próximo ajuste en los flujos de exportación se analizará en la cumbre de la OPEP+ del 26 de agosto.
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