On August 24, the Saudi VLCC Amzan was struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, and a fire broke out on deck. The Houthis subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack. Saudi shipping company Bahri confirmed that the vessel had been involved in a security incident, adding that all crew members were safe and no pollution had been reported. The incident occurred near Yanbu, a major Saudi crude export port, drawing renewed attention to tanker shipping risks in the northern Red Sea.

Key Highlights 

• VLCC attacked: The Saudi VLCC Amzan was struck, and a fire broke out on deck near Yanbu. 

• Houthi claim: The Houthis said the attack was carried out using a ballistic missile.

• Crew and pollution: All crew members are safe, and no pollution has been reported, but risks surrounding tanker operations at Yanbu have increased. 

• Shipping impact: Tanker schedules, insurance costs, and rerouting expenses in the Red Sea could come under further pressure.

Saudi VLCC Attacked as Risks Rise Near Yanbu

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), Amzan was struck by an unidentified projectile approximately 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, causing a fire on deck. The Houthis claimed responsibility and said a ballistic missile had been used in the attack.

Bahri later confirmed that the vessel involved was Amzan, a VLCC of approximately 318,000 deadweight tonnes. At the time of the incident, it was sailing from Ain Sukhna, Egypt, to Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. All crew members were safe, and no crude oil spill was reported.

The incident has drawn particular attention because it involved a VLCC and occurred relatively close to Yanbu. The port is a major crude export hub on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast and an important part of the country’s western oil transportation system, which reduces some of its reliance on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. A direct attack on a tanker in these waters indicates that security risks in the northern Red Sea now extend closer to Saudi Arabia’s crude export network.

Rising Risks at Yanbu Could Affect More Than One Tanker

Red Sea shipping risks had previously been concentrated around the Bab el-Mandeb and the southern Red Sea, but recent incidents indicate that the risk area is extending northward. The Houthis had earlier announced action against Saudi-related shipping. The attack on a VLCC near Yanbu could prompt shipowners to reassess calls at Saudi Red Sea ports.

Yanbu plays an important role in Saudi crude exports. If security concerns lead shipowners to reduce calls at the port, Saudi crude shipments may have to rely more heavily on other export routes. For the tanker market, route changes would mean longer voyages, higher insurance costs, and slower vessel turnaround. The impact of Red Sea security risks could therefore extend to tanker freight rates and global crude transportation costs.

Will Shipowners Adjust Red Sea Voyages?

In the near term, the market will be watching whether shipowners and charterers revise voyage arrangements for Saudi Red Sea ports. If war-risk surcharges continue to rise or some shipowners reduce Red Sea calls, both voyage costs and schedules could be affected. If more tankers divert around the Cape of Good Hope, voyage distances and the time required for each voyage would increase, potentially raising tonne-mile demand.

Containerized cargo is not directly affected by this tanker incident. However, if Red Sea risks continue to escalate, carriers may make further changes to Red Sea services, port calls, and capacity deployment, with possible effects on other shipping markets. Freight forwarders handling cargo involving Saudi Arabia, Red Sea ports, or Middle East routes should monitor carrier notices and pay close attention to schedule changes, transshipment arrangements, and related surcharges.

The incident has not resulted in reported crew casualties or environmental pollution, but tanker shipping risks in the northern Red Sea have increased further. Further attention should be given to vessel movements at Yanbu and other Saudi Red Sea ports, route adjustments by shipowners, and changes in war-risk insurance costs and tanker freight rates.

Sources and Disclaimer 

Sources include UKMTO, Bahri, Reuters, and other publicly available shipping information. This article is provided solely for reference by the international logistics and shipping industry. Please refer to the latest official and carrier notices for current information.