# Houthis Declare Naval Blockade Against Saudi Arabia – First Tankers Turn Back **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-07-21 | **Updated:** 2026-07-26 **Tags:** Huthis, Saudi-Arabien, Bab al-Mandab, Rotes Meer, Seeblockade, Yanbu, Tanker, Suezkanal, Krieg, Seefracht, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung > Houthis declare Saudi port calls a risk. First oil tankers turn back. Bab al-Mandab remains open, but insurance and rerouting risks increase --- The Houthi militia in Yemen has declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. In simple terms: ships are no longer supposed to call at Saudi ports. According to the Houthis, anyone loading or unloading cargo there could later become a target of attack – even outside the Red Sea. The threat is therefore not limited to ships flying the Saudi flag. International tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships that have previously called at a Saudi Arabian port could also be affected. Shipping companies are already responding. The _Xin Long Yang_ had loaded approximately two million barrels of crude oil for China at the Saudi port of Yanbu. Instead of heading towards Asia through the Bab al-Mandab strait, the tanker turned around and set course for the Suez Canal. The _Rodos_, carrying around 700,000 barrels of crude oil bound for India, also turned back. The _New Prime_, which was only supposed to head to Yanbu, changed its course before entering the Red Sea. Bab al-Mandab is the narrow strait between Yemen and East Africa. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Shipping typically passes through this strait when traveling from Yanbu to Asia. If Bab al-Mandab is avoided, ships in the northern Red Sea have only one option: to return through the Suez Canal, then through the Mediterranean Sea and around Africa. This can mean several weeks of additional transit time. The Saudi port of Yanbu continues to operate for now. Tankers already in the Red Sea or arriving via the Suez Canal continue to be loaded. Saudi Arabia has announced it will protect its merchant fleet and respond decisively to any attacks. The situation is therefore serious, but cannot yet be equated with a complete blockade. What will be decisive is whether attacks actually occur and whether more shipping companies avoid Bab al-Mandab. --- For dispatch planning, the threat means above all more uncertainty. Vessels with Saudi connections must be reassessed individually. Decisive factors are owner, operator, previous port calls, cargo, and planned route. Shippers should expect higher war risk premiums, short-term course changes, and longer transit times for shipments via Saudi ports. Particularly critical are oil and product tankers from Yanbu heading to Asia. Incorrect classifications also remain a risk. The Houthis have in the past sometimes worked with outdated information about owners and port calls. This means that vessels not clearly meeting the announced criteria can also be affected. Rerouting incurs additional bunker costs, higher charter costs, and possible delays in onward transport. Insurance coverage and war risk clauses should be reviewed once more before departure. In short: Bab al-Mandab is still open. However, the threat is already having an effect because the first tankers are turning around and shipping companies are reassessing their Saudi trades. --- The Houthis declared the blockade on July 20, 2026. Shipping companies were warned in writing about Saudi port calls. The threat applies to loading and discharging at all Saudi ports. Two laden tankers have verifiably turned around in the Red Sea. The Xin Long Yang transports approximately two million barrels of crude oil. The Rodos transports approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil. The New Prime has already altered its course prior to the Red Sea. Yanbu continues to operate normally. Bab al-Mandab is currently not completely closed. No new attacks in the Red Sea have been confirmed within the last 48 hours. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Egypt](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/eg) - [India](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/in) - [Eritrea](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/er) - [Djibouti](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/dj) - [Saudi Arabia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/sa) - [Yemen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ye) - [China](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cn) - [Somalia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/so) ### Seaports - [Yanbu (SA YBI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/yanbu-port-sa-ybi) - [Jiddah (SA JED)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/jiddah-port-sa-jed) - [Jazireh-Ye Sirri (IR SXI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/jazireh-ye-sirri-port-ir-sxi) - [Dammam (SA DMM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/dammam-port-sa-dmm) - [As Suways (EG SUZ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/as-suways-port-eg-suz) - [Ain Sukhna Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ain-sukhna-terminal-port-1253) - [Bur Sa'id (EG PSD)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/bur-said-port-eg-psd) ### Glossary - [Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo) - [Freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight) - [Port](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port) - [Supply chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain-2) - [Shipping company](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipping-company) - [At-Sea Port Operations](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/at-sea-port-operations) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight-2) - [Bunker Cost Management Freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/bunker-cost-management-freight) - [Heavy-Lift Ship Chartering](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/heavy-lift-ship-chartering) - [Tanker Turnaround Optimization](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/tanker-turnaround-optimization) - [Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Services](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/very-large-crude-carrier-vlcc-services) - [rerouting](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rerouting) - [sea freight damage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight-damage) - [container ship](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-ship) - [War Risk Surcharge](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/war-risk-surcharge) - [Naval Blockade](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/naval-blockade) - [Chokepoint](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/chokepoint) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/huthis-erklaeren-seeblockade-gegen-saudi-arabien-erste-tanker-drehen-ab-20260721165509](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/huthis-erklaeren-seeblockade-gegen-saudi-arabien-erste-tanker-drehen-ab-20260721165509)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/huthis-erklaeren-seeblockade-gegen-saudi-arabien-erste-tanker-drehen-ab-20260721165509](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/huthis-erklaeren-seeblockade-gegen-saudi-arabien-erste-tanker-drehen-ab-20260721165509)*