OREANDA-NEWS Since December 2023, the number of ships passing through the Red Sea has plummeted. This is reported by TASS with reference to data from the Marine Traffic service.

After the US and UK strikes on Yemeni Houthi targets, the number of transporters passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was halved, from 270 to 114 ships. Maritime traffic has decreased due to fears of retaliatory attacks from the rebels. Major shipping companies have urged owners and operators of commercial vessels to avoid the waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

As previously reported by Bloomberg, the number of tankers for the transportation of liquefied natural gas has decreased the most (minus 96 percent). The number of oil tankers fell by 55 and bulk carriers by 25 percent. After the US and UK missile strikes on rebel forces, about 20 commercial vessels changed course or stopped before entering the southern part of the Red Sea.