HOUSTON
\nAt least two ships transporting oil or oil products between the US Gulf Coast and India on Friday were re-routing from the Red Sea, according to vessel tracking data, as a US-led coalition geared up to help safeguard vessels from attacks by Yemen\u2019s Houthi militants.
\nIran-backed Houthis, who say they are supporting Palestinians under siege by Israel in the Gaza Strip, have attacked commercial shipping with drones and missiles, forcing shippers to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
\nThe Aigeorgis, which was chartered by BP to carry vacuum gasoil (VGO) from India\u2019s Jamnagar to Texas, on Friday was headed along Africa\u2019s East Coast toward the Cape of Good Hope, according to financial firm LSEG\u2019s ship tracking data.
\nBP\u2019s VGO shipments from Jamnagar historically moved through the Red Sea. The new route adds nine days to the journey between India and the US Gulf Coast. VGO is a refining feedstock used to produce gasoline and diesel.
\nA BP spokesperson declined to comment on the Aigeorgis but referred to an earlier statement on its decision to re-route ships. The company had said on Tuesday it would avoid the Red Sea and route vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
\nThe Sonangol Cabinda, chartered by Equinor to carry crude oil from Texas to India, did a 180-degree turn in the middle of the Red Sea on Thursday and was moving through the Suez Canal toward the Mediterranean, LSEG tracking data showed.
\nThe US said the naval coalition announced last week involved 20 countries. Some have not confirmed their participation, however, while others have said operations to protect Red Sea commercial traffic will be as part of existing naval agreements. The lack of practical details for shippers has caused confusion for those still avoiding the region.
\n\u201cWe have also paused new activities that involves transit through the region,\u201d an Equinor spokesperson said on Tuesday. Ships currently in the region were being rerouted or paused, the spokesperson said.
\nThe Houthi attacks have led shippers to change routes, causing several African ports to become overwhelmed with the number of ships entering their waters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HOUSTON At least two ships transporting oil or oil products between the US Gulf Coast and India on Friday were re-routing from the Red Sea, according to vessel tracking data, as a US-led coalition geared up to help safeguard vessels from attacks by Yemen\u2019s Houthi militants. Iran-backed Houthis, who say they are supporting Palestinians under […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-376569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n