gCaptain25 Jul 2026Macro
Automatically composed with AI from the cited sources
Western-owned tankers are turning off transponders at Bab el-Mandeb or diverting via Suez, while Chinese-flagged and Hong Kong-owned VLCCs continue carrying Saudi crude through the strait, with EU Sentinel-2 imagery on July 23 confirming tankers berthed at four of Yanbu's seven crude export berths though none were visible on AIS. A Greece-to-India Suezmax, Merbabu, exited dark, the VLCC Olympic Luck is heading north half-full for a potential Suez transit, and at least one VLCC has been provisionally fixed to load in Egypt for South Korea via the Cape.
Context
Flows persist despite the Houthi blockade declaration and port attacks reported one day earlier , and the continuation contrasts with the Saudi-bound supertanker's U-turn on the same date .
