More Vessels Reverse Course Amid Renewed Houthi Threats

Vessels Change Course as Red Sea Tensions Resurface

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, citing vessel-tracking data from Vanguard, a growing number of merchant ships have altered course to steer clear of potential Houthi hostile action in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Following a first wave of suspected U-turns on July 21, additional vessels were observed doing the same on July 22.

Among the ships identified: the Marshall Islands-flagged car carrier Liu Jiang Kou, now heading east along the Maritime Transit Security Corridor (MTSC) out of the Gulf of Aden; the Russian-flagged, EU/UK/US-sanctioned products tanker Trust, anchored off Jeddah; the Singapore-flagged products tanker Navig8 Express, which appears to have turned back toward Yanbu; the Liberia-flagged tanker Mica, halted off Jizan instead of continuing to Sohar; the Maltese-flagged Suezmax Agios Gerasimos, redirected toward the Sumed Pipeline terminal at Ain Sukhna; and the Liberia-flagged Suezmax Amazon, now moving north toward the Suez Canal.

Traffic Levels Holding Despite the Warnings

Despite these diversions, overall shipping activity along the MTSC has remained broadly similar day to day, with around 22 vessels still transiting waters off the Houthi-controlled Yemeni coast with AIS transponders active as of midday July 22. Notably, the Houthi Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center had not issued any formal mariner warnings tied to the blockade threat announced by military spokesman Brigadier Yahya Sare’e, leaving the practical scope of the threat somewhat uncertain.

Both the UK and US governments have publicly condemned the Houthi blockade plan. The US has signaled it would respond if shipping is physically interfered with, while the UK has yet to indicate any concrete measures.

Aspides’ Role and a Quiet Advisory

Operation Aspides, the EU’s defensive naval mission launched in February 2024 in response to sustained Houthi attacks, recently marked 29 months in service and reports having supported more than 2,200 merchant vessels during that period. The mission’s public communications, however, have so far stayed quiet on the current blockade threat, with recent posts focused on command visits and national day observances rather than the unfolding situation.

More significantly, Reuters has reported viewing an internal EUNAVFOR Aspides advisory recommending that vessels with links to Israeli, US, or Saudi interests avoid transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until threat levels ease. There is currently no indication that the EU plans to expand the naval assets committed to the operation.

What This Means for Owners and Charterers

For ship operators, this pattern of quiet, discretionary rerouting is arguably more informative than any official warning. Owners and charterers appear to be making independent risk assessments—diverting tankers and car carriers away from a known threat corridor even in the absence of a formally published Houthi advisory or updated threat notice. That gap between operational caution and public messaging is itself a signal worth watching.

For technical superintendents and managers, episodes like this reinforce the value of maintaining flexible voyage planning and up-to-date condition awareness for vessels that may need to alter routing, extend port time, or anchor unexpectedly. Ships diverted or delayed off ports such as Jeddah, Yanbu, or Jizan may face extended idle periods, changes to bunkering plans, or altered cargo delivery schedules — all of which increase the value of having accurate, independent bunker quantity surveys, condition surveys, and cargo verification available on short notice at alternative ports. Charterers relying on laycan and delivery schedules should also factor in the possibility of route changes when assessing vessel positioning and performance claims.

As the situation develops, owners with vessels transiting or approaching the Red Sea corridor would be well advised to maintain close contact with flag states, insurers, and regional agents, and to treat AIS-based diversion patterns — as tracked by services like Vanguard — as an early indicator of risk even before official Houthi or coalition notices catch up.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.