Tankers diverted from Yemen amid conflict

Yemen

SANAA, April 9, 2015 – LNG tanker Grace Acacia, expected to deliver a shipment to the Yemen LNG plant in Balhaf on April 10, was diverted on Wednesday due increasing tensions in the country. According to traders in the region, the vessels are turning back from Yemen because insurance companies are refusing to cover vessels that berth there.

The Grace Acacia is now sitting in the Arabian Sea as is LNG tanker STX Kolt, which was diverted on April 1. A third LNG tanker, Provalys, was due to arrive on April 6, but changed course on April 4 and is now in the Red Sea.

Additionally, an oil tanker chartered by Italian company Eni to deliver 60,000 tonnes of high-sulphur gas oil to Yemen’s Aden Refinery turned back on April 4. The Hong Ze Hu set sail from South Korea and is now near Singapore.

The disruption of energy supply began when Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against a rebel militia in the country last month. Fighting has led to the closure of Yemen’s major ports and the shutdown of one of the country’s production trains.

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