Key Facts

• The Greek tanker, carrying Saudi crude, exited the Red Sea with its transponder turned off, a common practice used to avoid detection, particularly in high-risk areas.
• Another Chinese vessel was headed toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, as Houthi attacks on commercial shipping continue to pose a threat.
• The Houthi attacks have heightened risks for commercial shipping in the region, prompting some vessels to take evasive measures, such as turning off their transponders, to minimize their visibility and avoid becoming targets.