00:05The growing security crisis in the Red Sea is forcing another major shift in global oil shipping.
00:11The Hong Kong-flagged, very large crude carrier, New Prime, has abandoned its planned route through the Bab El-Mandev
00:19Strait
00:19and is now sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, becoming the first known tanker bound for Saudi Arabia's Yangu
00:25oil terminal
00:26to fully circumnavigate Africa since the latest Houthi blockade intensified.
00:31According to maritime tracking data, the tanker halted near the southern entrance of the Bab El-Mandev Strait four days
00:38ago
00:39before reversing course and heading south.
00:41The diversion is expected to add approximately 11 days to the voyage, significantly increasing transportation costs and delivery times.
00:49The New Prime had been scheduled to load Saudi crude at Yanbu, one of the kingdom's most important Red Sea
00:56export terminals.
00:58Instead of attempting passage through waters threatened by Houthi attacks, the vessel is now taking the far longer route around
01:05Africa.
01:06The rerouting follows the Iran-backed Houthi movement's declaration of a naval blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping.
01:13The Houthis say the blockade is retaliation for Saudi military operations in Yemen and Riyadh's alignment with U.S. military
01:21actions against Iran.
01:23The group has warned that vessels calling at Saudi ports could become legitimate targets for missile, drone and naval attacks.
01:31In recent weeks, the Houthis have claimed attacks on several Saudi-linked commercial vessels, including the Ancelia and the Lila.
01:39Some of those claims include reports of fire damage, although the extent of the reported incidents has not been independently
01:46verified.
01:47The latest diversion highlights how the conflict is expanding beyond military targets and increasingly affecting global energy logistics.
01:55The Bab El-Mandev Strait serves as one of the world's most critical maritime choke points, linking the Red Sea
02:02to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
02:04For Saudi Arabia, the route has become even more important as exporters increasingly rely on Yanbu to move crude oil
02:12through the Red Sea, reducing dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, which has also experienced heightened security tensions.
02:19Shipping analysts warn that sailing around the Cape of Good Hope adds thousands of nautical miles to every voyage.
02:25For very large crude carriers, that means higher fuel consumption, increased crew costs, longer delivery schedules and substantially higher war
02:35risk insurance premiums.
02:36Those additional costs could eventually be reflected in global freight rates and international energy prices if disruptions continue.
02:44Maritime security companies also report that more commercial operators are reassessing transit through the southern Red Sea, as insurers and
02:53ship owners weigh growing security risks.
02:56Saudi Arabia has condemned attacks on commercial shipping as violations of international law and says it remains committed to protecting
03:04freedom of navigation.
03:05Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Yaya Sari has insisted the blockade will remain in place until Saudi military operations against Yemen come
03:14to an end.
03:15With no diplomatic breakthrough currently in sight, analysts believe more tankers may follow New Prime's example by avoiding one of
03:23the world's busiest shipping lanes altogether.
03:25If that trend continues, the Red Sea crisis could place even greater pressure on global oil supply chains, increase transportation
03:34costs, and deepen uncertainty across international energy markets.
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