ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-flagged oil tankers carrying Saudi crude oil have successfully transited the Red Sea and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait without incident, despite an ongoing Houthi blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping, according to maritime intelligence company Windward.
The two Aframax-class crude oil tankers departed from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port after loading crude oil and completed their return voyage to Pakistan while keeping their Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking signals switched on throughout the journey, Windward said in a statement on X.
Since the July 20 Houthi blockade against Saudi Arabia, Saudi linked tankers, excluding Chinese affiliated vessels, have been struck or diverted around the Cape of Good Hope. During the same period, two Pakistan-flagged Aframax crude tankers loaded at Yanbu, then sailed through… pic.twitter.com/DA4obCqXPz
— Windward (@WindwardAI) August 5, 2026
The safe passage is considered significant as the Houthis announced a blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20. Since then, Saudi-linked commercial tankers, except those associated with China, have either come under attack or been forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea, increasing both transit times and shipping costs.
The development follows a recent warning issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that any attack on a Pakistan-flagged vessel would be regarded as a threat to Pakistan’s national security.
The statement underscored Islamabad’s concern over the security of its maritime trade and commercial shipping operating in the region.
Meanwhile, the United States has reiterated that the southern approach to the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international commercial navigation despite escalating tensions with Iran.
In a statement posted on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the waterway continues to be accessible to all commercial vessels seeking safe passage.
READ ALSO: Iran Allows 20 More Pakistan-Flagged Ships Through Hormuz: Deputy Prime Minister
CENTCOM added that US forces have assisted more than 1,000 ships in transiting the Strait of Hormuz safely over the past three months, despite what it described as “unwarranted Iranian aggression”.
The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway. Over the past three months, U.S. forces have assisted more than 1,000 vessels in successfully transiting the strait despite unwarranted… pic.twitter.com/TcszH0GimG
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 4, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb are among the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, handling a substantial share of global energy shipments. Any disruption to navigation through these routes has the potential to affect international oil supplies, freight costs and global trade.
The successful transit of the Pakistan-flagged tankers is likely to provide reassurance to regional shipping operators, although security risks in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways continue to remain elevated amid the broader geopolitical crisis.
