Saudi Oil Tankers for India Sail ‘Dark’
Two tankers carrying Saudi crude oil for Indian refinineries sailed through the Red Sea with their tracking systems switched off after Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a blockade on Saudi shipments. The vessels are now heading towards ports in India.
Saudi Oil Tankers Sail Without Tracking
The Suezmax tanker Amazon, chartered by Indian Oil Corporation, loaded one million barrels of crude at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port around July 20.
Another tanker, Rodos, loaded approximately 700,000 barrels for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.
Both vessels initially travelled north towards the Suez Canal before switching off their Automatic Identification System transponders around July 22. They then turned south and exited the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Shipping sources said the tracking systems were disabled as a safety precaution while travelling through a conflict-affected region.
Tankers Heading Towards Indian Ports
Rodos is expected to reach Mangalore on August 1, while Amazon is scheduled to arrive in Chennai during early August.
Both vessels are managed by Greece-based Dynacom Tankers. The decision to sail without publicly transmitting their locations followed attacks on two other vessels managed by the same company.
The tankers are believed to be the first vessels carrying Saudi crude for India to switch off their tracking systems since the Houthi blockade was announced.
Indian Refiners Change Shipping Terms
Indian refiners have increasingly sought oil cargoes on a delivered basis, placing responsibility for transportation and security risks on suppliers and vessel owners.
MRPL has also sought crude shipments using routes that avoid both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions.
It remains unclear whether Indian authorities contacted the Houthis or Iran to secure safe passage after refiners requested government assistance.
