The Saudi strategy centers on moving crude from Yanbu to the Egyptian port of Ain Sukhna, utilizing the onshore SUMED pipeline to reach Sidi Kerir. This bypass allows tankers to avoid the southern Red Sea, where Iran-aligned Houthi forces recently declared a blockade on Saudi shipments. Vessel-tracking data from Bloomberg confirms that these carriers expect to arrive over the next three weeks, highlighting the urgency of the rerouting effort.

While some vessels remain visible, others have opted to turn off their transponders to evade detection. The instability has already pushed at least one tanker carrying Saudi crude to Asia to abandon the Red Sea entirely, opting for the significantly longer journey around the Cape of Good Hope. Despite U.S.-led attempts at de-escalation, maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait hit a multi-month low on Sunday, while activity at the Strait of Hormuz lingers at a two-month nadir.