No charge for Bab al-Mandab Strait transits, Houthis tell The Loadstar

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have rejected reports alleging their intent to impose tolls on transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, with carriers seemingly showing more faith in the Iran-backed group as crossings increase. Citing “unspecified regional sources”, Reuters reported last week, also covered by The Loadstar , that “the Houthis may start to impose fees on international commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb Strait”. But the group told The Loadstar : “We categorically deny these claims and confirm we have neither taken nor considered decisions to impose fees for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. “We emphasise [that] transit through the Bab al-Mandab Strait is free of charge. Furthermore, the services we provide – including the Safe Transit Service for vessels – are, as is well known, entirely free of charge.” Conditions in the Red Sea have been somewhat confusing for several years, with an on-off campaign being conducted by the Houthis as part of their support for Israel’s war on Palestine. The current working assumption is that all vessels may be subject to attack, but the Houthis have reduced their core target list to ships explicitly supporting the Israeli state, particularly Zim. Some clarity was provided in the statement to The Loadstar , the group noting: “All vessels outside the scope of the declared ban may transit safely. Additionally, for added assurance, such vessels may submit a safe transit request”. It added: “We categorically confirm that any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever.” Carriers seem to be listening, with CMA CGM and Maersk having upped their Suez transits and Linerlytica reporting that the number of containerships detouring around the Cape of Good Hope has dropped to a 2.5-year low. Hovering around 5.2% of the global containership fleet, this drop is pronounced – at their peak, diversions accounted for 16% of the fleet. Linerlytica said: “CMA CGM and Maersk continue to drive the early return to the trans-Suez route, directing ships on their EPIC and AE11 westbound voyages through the Bab el Mandeb. The ships will avoid calling at Saudi ports and will head directly to Suez.”