Saudi Tankers Go Dark in Red Sea Amid Houthi Blockade

Two Saudi crude tankers, the Aframax Rodos and the Suezmax Amazon, ceased broadcasting their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders in the Red Sea on July 22, 2026. This critical move occurred while the vessels, carrying oil for Indian refiners, navigated the conflict zone following a blockade declaration by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

Key Vessel & Cargo Details

• The Aframax Rodos loaded 700,000 barrels of crude for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.
• The Suezmax Amazon, chartered by Indian Oil Corp., took on 1 million barrels.
• Both tankers were destined for Indian ports.

The intentional disabling of AIS transponders renders the ships untraceable by public tracking systems, a practice considered a standard safety measure in areas of heightened conflict. This incident marks the first recorded instance of vessels transporting Saudi crude to India employing this tactic since the Houthi blockade commenced.

Route & Safety Measures

Initially, the tankers proceeded north towards the Suez Canal before altering course. They then moved south to traverse the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and exit the Red Sea, maintaining their ‘dark’ status throughout this transit.

• Transponders were shut off by the owner for safety reasons, according to a source.
• The Amazon is projected to reach Chennai in early August.
• The Rodos is expected at Mangalore port by August 1.
• Greece-based Dynacom Tankers manages both vessels.

This decision to disable tracking devices follows previous missile attacks targeting other ships managed by Dynacom Tankers. The Liberian-flagged VLCC Acheloos and the Malta-flagged Panamax-sized tanker Kavomaleas were both previously hit, underscoring the severe risks in the region.

The continued use of such safety protocols highlights the ongoing challenges to maritime trade routes, particularly for crude oil supplies bound for major consuming nations like India, amidst regional geopolitical tensions.