Saudi Arabia: Tanker explosion at Jeddah Port Dec. 13; no reports of casualties

Event

Emerging reports Dec. 14 indicate an explosion struck an oil tanker off Jeddah Port the previous day. Saudi authorities have yet to confirm the blast. Unconfirmed reports suggest the incident was possibly an attack on the Saudi-flagged tanker Al Amal Al Saudi, which was at anchorage off the Saudi Aramco Jeddah port during the incident. There have been no reports of casualties. No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued a precautionary advisory for vessels operating in the affected area to exercise extreme caution.

Saudi authorities will likely intensify naval and aerial surveillance in the coming days. Heightened security measures and could disrupt shipping and maritime transport in the area.

Context

There have been a number of attacks against key Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks. Saudi officials blamed Al-Houthi rebels for an explosion that damaged a Maltese-flagged oil tanker off Al Shuqaiq Nov. 25. On Nov. 24, Saudi authorities reported that they destroyed five mines that Al-Houthi rebels had laid in the Red Sea. The Al-Houthi rebels also continue to launch weaponized drones and missiles targeting Saudi southern provinces of Jazan, Asir, and Najran. They claimed responsibility for a missile attack against an Aramco oil facility in the Burayman area of Jeddah in the early hours of Nov. 23. However, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces (RSADF) intercept and destroy most projectiles before they strike their intended targets.

Advice

Exercise caution and reconfirm routes with maritime authorities if transiting or shipping freight through the affected port in the coming hours. Plan accordingly for localized freight and passenger maritime transport delays.