Six Saudi-flagged supertankers changed their route in the Gulf of Aden after Yemen's Houthi movement threatened to target Saudi shipping. According to ship-tracking data released on August 3, the vessels are now sailing toward southern Africa instead of passing through the southern Red Sea.

The tankers had already delivered their cargo in Asia and were traveling empty. Ship-tracking data from LSEG and MarineTraffic showed that the vessels were sailing together, avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. One of the ships, Dilam, was listed with Gibraltar as its destination.

Two shipping trade sources said the tankers were rerouted through the Cape of Good Hope because of security concerns. The longer route could add at least 25 days to their journey if they later return to Saudi ports through the Suez Canal, based on Reuters calculations.

The Houthi movement announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, saying it would target Saudi shipping. In response to recent attacks on Saudi-linked vessels, London\'s marine insurance market expanded its "high risk" zone in the Red Sea to include waters near more Saudi ports. Saudi shipping company Bahri and Saudi officials had not issued a public comment at the time of the report.