Daijiworld Media Network - Sana’a

Sana’a, Jul 11: Amid a surge in deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, commercial vessels still navigating the Red Sea have begun broadcasting messages about their nationality and even religious affiliation in a desperate attempt to avoid being targeted.

Following the sinking of two ships this week, ships passing through the southern Red Sea and the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait have updated their AIS (Automatic Identification System) public tracking profiles with messages like “All Crew Muslim,” “All Chinese Crew,” and declarations of having no ties to Israel. Some vessels have even highlighted the presence of armed guards onboard.

The Iran-aligned Houthi group, which claims to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, has threatened to block passage for any company linked to Israel. “There will be no passage for ships tied to Israeli interests,” said group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi in a renewed warning.

However, maritime security experts warn that these messages are unlikely to deter the Houthis, whose intelligence-gathering is said to be extensive. “Their targeting is much deeper and more sophisticated than AIS messages can influence,” a maritime security source noted.

Shipping analytics revealed that vessels targeted this week had past links to Israeli ports. Despite attempts to sever visible connections to Israel, including ownership and trading history, vessels remain vulnerable.

In March, the Houthis struck the Chinese-operated tanker Huang Pu with ballistic missiles — contradicting their earlier claims that Chinese vessels would be spared. The group has also targeted ships linked to Russia.

The recent escalation has prompted underwriters to reclassify the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab as high-risk zones. According to a report by insurance broker Aon, the cost of insuring voyages through the region has more than doubled this week, with some insurers suspending coverage altogether.

Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence showed a sharp drop in daily vessel movements through the Bab al-Mandab Strait — from an average of 79 ships per day in October 2023 to just 32–35 in recent days.

The UK-based Seafarers' Charity expressed grave concern: “Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, keeping countries supplied with food, fuel and medicine. They should not have to risk their lives to do their job.”

With tension mounting, experts are urging enhanced monitoring and adaptable security measures to protect global maritime operations in the Red Sea corridor.