Two tankers with Saudi oil exit Red Sea over weekend

SINGAPORE — Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait over the weekend, while vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed following reports of tanker attacks, according to shipping data on Monday.

Data from commodity analytics firm Kpler showed that the number of commodity vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait dropped to 18 on Sunday, compared with 27 on Saturday and 28 on Friday.

The Iran-aligned Houthi movement declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, opening a new front in the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and its allies. The move expanded attacks on tankers transporting global energy supplies and other goods beyond the Gulf region.

The Suezmax tanker Lesvos and the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Desh Vaibhav exited the Red Sea with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off, according to Kpler data.

The Malta-flagged Lesvos was carrying around 1 million barrels of Saudi crude, although its destination was not immediately known. The Desh Vaibhav, carrying about 2 million barrels of crude, was headed to India’s Sikka port, where Reliance Industries typically receives oil shipments.

Dynacom, the manager of the Lesvos, did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside office hours. The Shipping Corporation of India, which operates the Desh Vaibhav, was also not immediately available for comment.

Strait of Hormuz

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route that previously handled about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, also declined amid rising security concerns.

Kpler data showed that one tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas loaded in Iran crossed the strait on Sunday. However, some vessels may have turned off their AIS signals and could not be immediately tracked.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported three additional tanker attacks since Saturday, adding to concerns over shipping safety in the region.

The number of commodity vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 10 on Saturday from 19 on Friday, which was the highest level recorded since mid-July, according to Kpler.

Among the vessels that crossed the strait on Friday were the VLCCs Spain B and Noble. Two other VLCCs exited the strait while one entered, including the Kiku, carrying around 1.4 million barrels of Qatari crude, and the Rotterdam Energy, carrying 2 million barrels of Das crude.

Apex Shipping, the manager of the Kiku, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., the owner of Rotterdam Energy, did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside office hours. -Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez/Reuters