Italy’s Giuseppe Bono Centre believes tankers are getting off lightly in the Red Sea as Houthi forces target other kinds of vessels.
The centre, backed by Italian shipowners, acknowledged that there had been some high-profile attacks on Ardmore Shipping and Mowinckels Rederi tankers in recent weeks, but container ships and bulkers have borne the brunt of the aggression coming from the Iran-backed militia in Yemen.
The organisation said that, according to its own monitoring, risks have so far focused on the flow of goods and in particular containers through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
“Oil traffic in the Red Sea seems to enjoy a kind of pass from the Houthis,” it added.
Many Middle Eastern analysts believe this may reflect Iran’s intention to avoid an escalation of the conflict that would be inevitable if tankers were targeted.
“It is no coincidence that the average number of oil tankers transiting the missile and drone risk zone is virtually unchanged from the 2023 averages, but also that the only tankers diverted on the Africa circumnavigation route are all operated directly or indirectly by American or Israeli interests,” the centre added.
“But this scenario might evolve very quickly, involving directly the transport of energy on the surface but also in pipelines and submarine infrastructure.”
The comments echo those of Ben Luckock, Trafigura’s global head of oil, who said tankers have been less affected than container vessels.
Reuters has, however, reported at least six more tankers staying away from the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Monday.
Ship tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group and Kpler showed ships operated by Torm, Shell and Pleiades Shipping altering course.
Scorpio Tankers and Sinokor Merchant Marine vessels were also said to be heading for South Africa instead of the Suez Canal.
Founded in honour of Giuseppe Bono
The centre was founded in June 2023 after the death of long-serving Fincantieri chief executive Giuseppe Bono.
It is funded by a group of Italian and international shipping and industrial figures, including Antonio Gozzi, CEO of steel maker Duferco; Pierfrancesco Vago, chairman of MSC Cruises; and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, former owner of Silversea Cruises.
The centre’s president is Massimo Ponzellini, honorary president of the European Investment Bank.
The centre provides shipping insight and operates in close connection with Cesmar, the research and analysis centre of the Italian Navy.
