Red Sea shipping

Red Sea shipping is commercial maritime traffic through the Red Sea between the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden, linking Mediterranean routes with the Indian Ocean.

Suez Canal: An artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Its southern entrance marks the northern end of this shipping corridor.
2023–2024 Red Sea crisis: A period of attacks on commercial vessels in and near the Red Sea that prompted military responses and widespread rerouting. The crisis sharply reduced traffic through the corridor and exposed its vulnerability.
Suezmax: A ship sized to carry the maximum cargo that can pass through the Suez Canal. The canal’s dimensions shape vessel design and capacity on this route.
Houthi movement: A Yemeni political and armed movement that controls much of northwestern Yemen. Its attacks on vessels have been a major source of recent route insecurity.
Bab-el-Mandeb: A strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Every ship using the corridor must pass this narrow southern gateway.
Maritime insurance: Insurance that covers ships, cargo, and liabilities arising from maritime transport. War-risk premiums can rise when vessels enter dangerous waters.
Oil tanker: A ship built to transport crude oil or petroleum products in bulk. Tankers carry energy cargo through the Red Sea and its connecting gateways.
Piracy in Somalia: The seizure or attempted seizure of vessels by pirates operating from Somalia or nearby waters. Piracy has threatened traffic approaching the Gulf of Aden and prompted naval patrols.
Gulf of Aden: An inlet of the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. It connects Red Sea traffic with routes across the Indian Ocean.
Freight rate: The price charged to transport cargo by a specified mode and route. Longer voyages and elevated risk can increase the cost of moving goods.

Linked from 8 pages