The escalating situation in the southern Red Sea is of great concern to cruising yachts planning to use that route to head either to or from the Indian Ocean. We ask the moderator of the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group, a community for yachts transiting the Red Sea, what most yachts intending to transit are now doing.

Published 10 months ago, updated 3 months ago

Drone and rocket attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have now prompted US and UK-led forces to stage air strikes on targets in the region.

Western forces took action after vessels were attacked by the Houthis – an Iran-backed rebel group which controls a large part of Yemen.

US President Joe Biden said the US and UK military had successfully launched strikes early on Friday against Houthi targets with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.

About 15% of global seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea (the US says), including 8% of global grain, 12% of seaborne oil and 8% of the world’s liquified natural gas. The US says the group  has so far attempted to attack and harass vessels in the Red Sea and Guld of Aden 28 times.

As these attacks escalate, cruising yachts planning a Red Sea transit this season are having to think again.

Wade Alarie is moderator of a social media group (the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group) specifically for yachts planning to use the Red Sea as a transit to or from the Mediterranean and he told Noonsite that as far as he knows, there are no private yachts in the area between Djibouti and Port Suez at this time.

“The last yacht was northbound, finishing in mid December 2023,” said Wade. “A few yachts that were planning to go south are delaying their trip. A few heading west from Malaysia and Thailand have definitely changed their plans, but there are still some going to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which this is the normal period to head to that area.

“Some are still determined to go through the Red Sea and many are just postponing the decision. Also, since Djibouti seems to be a safe area, a few are considering leaving their boat in Djibouti.”

Wade said the number of yachts communicating with Suez Canal agents is down on previous years. At this time, it would normally be 50-60, but inquiries are only about 10-12. He believes many people are still waiting before making a decision to:

• A – stay where they are (Maldives, Sri Lanka, Phuket, Langkawi and Pangkor) and postpone for a year;
• B – move closer to the Maldives, and postpone the decision;
• C – change plans and head to South Africa; or
• D – head to the Seychelles and/or Tanzania and maybe postpone the Red Sea for a year.

“It is still very much a dynamic situation.” says Wade. “I should point out that although the risk is still much higher than in previous years, to date, there have been no private yachts attacked, either by Houthis or Somalis. Also, the use of drone and missile attacks against commercial ships is not new. Saudi commercial ships have been attacked since 2017, since Saudi Arabia has been a supporter of the government of Yemen.”

Any yachts intending to make Red Sea passage this year should become a member of the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group.  See this Noonsite report –  Crossing the Red Sea in Both Directions:  Tips and Advice  – for details on the passage and how to join.

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Related News:

• Unfortunate Encounter off Eritrea (first person report) August 2024 – Read here.
  Including update on current situation from Wade Alarie, moderator of the Red Sea Passage Facebook group.
• Middle East News  – (BBC)
• Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Persist – (Reuters)
• Global Implications of Shipping Attacks in the Red Sea (IISS)

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Related Links:

• Crossing the Red Sea in Both Directions:  Tips and Advice (Noonsite)
• United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) Recent Incidents Map
• UKMTO Indian Ocean
• Travelling North and South through the Red Sea – Wade Alarie (2022)
• Cruising Legends: Wade Alarie and the Red Sea Passage

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