The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) has denied reports it will charge vessels transiting the Red Sea, saying its "safe transit service" is voluntary and free. The statement follows a Reuters report that Houthis discussed possible fees after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, with alleged input from Iranian officials. Saudi Arabia has responded by announcing a 14-nation maritime coalition to protect navigation through Bab al-Mandeb, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Houthis Deny Plans To Charge Ships, Say Red Sea Transit Will Remain Free
Boats float near the coast of Bab al-Mandeb, Yemen [File: Reuters]
Yemen's Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) has denied reports that the group plans to charge vessels for transiting the Red Sea, reiterating that its "safe transit service" is voluntary and provided free of charge.
HOCC Statement
The HOCC said anyone demanding payment for passage does not represent Yemen or the HOCC and urged shipping companies not to make payments or share voyage data with unauthorised intermediaries.
Background
The denial followed a Reuters report citing regional sources that the Iran-aligned Houthis had been considering levying fees for ships using the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. Those sources said the idea was discussed with Iranian officials during a Houthi visit to Tehran in July and that Iranian advisers had been involved in establishing an authority to regulate such charges.
Why It Matters
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a strategic chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, used by vessels carrying oil and other cargo between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Any attempt to impose a toll would echo earlier regional efforts to control maritime transit routes, such as moves affecting the Strait of Hormuz amid recent tensions.
Reactions And Context
Yemen's foreign minister-designate, Afrah al-Zouba, said the Houthis sought to "copy the Iranian model." A United Nations expert report suggested the group may have collected informal payments from shipping agents in 2024, though this has not been independently verified. Traffic through the strait has not returned to pre-2023 levels following attacks on Red Sea shipping that began in 2023.
In response to the renewed threat, Saudi Arabia announced a 14-nation maritime coalition this week to protect freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Advice For Shippers
Shipping companies are advised to follow official notices from recognised authorities, avoid payments to unauthorised parties and report any solicitations for fees to relevant national and international maritime authorities.
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