The situation at the southern entrance to the Red Sea has deteriorated once again. In just a few days, the Houthis have captured the port city of Mokha and several strategically located islands. This allows them to better monitor and threaten shipping traffic in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The strait is not completely closed. Several merchant vessels have continued to pass through recently. However, passage is not safe. The active US maritime warning lists ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles, gunfire from boats, explosive attacks, and forced boarding attempts as possible hazards.
Ships with connections to Saudi Arabia are particularly in focus. The Houthis had already announced a naval blockade in July against vessels serving Saudi ports. Planning becomes more difficult for cargo destined for Jeddah and oil shipments from Yanbu.
The most important alternative route remains the Cape of Good Hope. Ships between Asia and Europe circumnavigate the entire African continent. According to Le Monde, the journey is extended by at least ten days. Depending on the port of origin and destination, it can be considerably longer. In addition, there are increased fuel consumption, higher insurance premiums, and additional charter costs.
For cargo destined for the Gulf region, land bridges are available. Containers can be discharged via Salalah, Sohar, Fujairah, or Jeddah and transported further by truck. However, such solutions have limitations. Capacities are smaller, customs procedures become more complicated, and the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.
Urgent or high-value cargo can switch to sea-air connections. In this case, the cargo is shipped to a safe transshipment hub and then flown onwards. This saves time but is significantly more expensive.
There is currently no simple alternative route. Shippers must weigh security, transit time, availability, and costs.