NEW DELHI - A Panama-flagged tanker carrying Russian naphtha attempted to pass through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait in the last week of July before changing course to sail around Africa instead, trade sources said and shipping data from LSEG showed.The Suezmax vessel, Sea Icon, loaded at least 100,000 tons of naphtha from Russian port of Ust-Luga on July 1 for delivery to Asia, the data showed.Also read: Saudi oil tanker heads to India as Red Sea, Hormuz traffic slows amid attacksThe tanker is controlled by the Kuwait-based Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company. The company did not immediately respond to Reuters' email for comment.Upon nearing the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden that has seen repeated attacks on shipping last week, the tanker made a U-turn and exited the area.As of 0400 GMT on Monday, the ship was signalling Cape Town, South Africa, as its destination, LSEG ship-tracking data showed.Traffic through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait has thinned after the Iran-aligned Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20.
Tanker carrying Russian cargo reroutes around Africa after Red Sea U-turn
A Russian naphtha tanker changed course to sail around Africa. The Sea Icon vessel avoided the Bab-el-Mandeb strait due to recent attacks. This chokepoint has seen reduced shipping traffic after a maritime blockade declaration. The tanker loaded over 100,000 tons of naphtha from Russia. Its destination was Asia, but it signaled Cape Town as its current course.
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