Energy&ships.Tracker of ship attacks in Middle East. Senior fellow
@WashInstitute
, student of MA in sustainable energy
@SAISHopkins
, Behind THE CHOKEPOINT.
On *DEC 7* we
@WashInstitute
published a detailed piece on how attacks are affecting
#RedSea
trade route & warned of the wider disruptions we are seeing now- including the shipping costs, disruptions to energy flows, and dry cargo trade.
#OOTT
Thread:
My latest: How
#Iraq
Risks Losing Out To Saudis As India’s Top Oil Supplier via
@forbes
Iraq's exports to
#India
in April sharply dropped compared to March as
#Saudi
exports surged to levels not seen in a while, according to data from Kpler.
#OOTT
#oil
Red Sea Update And What We Are Paying Attention To
1/5 Our latest research has partly focused on the Houthi media campaign, and how the group has been projecting power through the effective use of misinformation. Before I discuss this, I highlight quick certainties derived from
Pay Attention to Ship Seizures, Not Threats to Close Strait of Hormuz
1/4 In this new INSIGHT, we assess Iran's threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf and the world's most vital chokepoint. The work is in collaboration with the super
@TankerTrackers
. Here's the link that takes
Thread: My Red Sea Update (Beyond the Headlines)
Even After Houthi Attacks, Russia-Linked Tankers Return to Red Sea
1/3 As another crude oil tanker connected to Delta Tankers was attacked this week in the southern Red Sea, I was keeping my eye on some tankers linked to
Energy Thread Focusing on Lebanon & Israel
1/6
#Hezbollah
released a video showing some Israeli sites, including oil storage tanks at different locations. Below are some notes:
#Israel
#Lebanon
#OOTT
#Energy
The Houthi-led attack on Marlin Luanda, an oil tanker on charter to trading giant Trafigura, in the Gulf of Aden, appears to be the *second attack on this tanker today*. Earlier on Friday, reports said the Marlin Luanda (IMO 9829899) AND Achilles (IMO 9368223) experienced a near
A long thread on
#Iraq
’s gas flaring and power sector. First, I searched in my own collection of old magazines and newspapers about the topic of gas flaring in Iraq. I managed to find a discussion about it in a paper published in 1973. Continue reading below:
#oott
Once
#Iraq
and
#Lebanon
sign "agreement" on whatever they are saying now with respect to what's being called "oil-for-food" it'll become clear what Lebanese officials are up to.Few highlights below on what Iraqi oil minister said today in
#Beirut
:
#Iraq
#Lebanon
, thread about Lebanese delegation visit to
#Baghdad
today to discuss the controversial issue of Iraq supplying Lebanon with fuel oil. I wrote about it before and will re-up one article at the end.
Iraqi-Soviet relations (1976-1977) in photos. If you're interested in Iraqi-Soviet ties, I will publish soon a short piece focusing on the Saddam-Brezhnev 1977 meeting & the visit by Alexei Kosygin, premier of the Soviet Union back then, to
#Iraq
in 1976.
#Baghdad
#history
Red Sea Update
1/2 Of all the three ship attack claims made by the Houthis today, the attack on bulk carrier YANNIS (IMO 9401910) yesterday is the one that deserves more attention at this stage for the reasons below:
Part of the details which the Houthis shared about the
للتوضيح: #لبنان لا يستورد "نفط خام" crude oil, المقصود هنا فيول اويل/ النفط الاسود. لا يوجد مصافي في لبنان لتكرير النفط الخام الذي ينتج عنه مواد نفطية مكررة. ثانيا،الفيول اويل العراقي مش للبنان، و الافضل بيعه للمصافي كما يفعل #العراق ( مثلا للمصافي الاسيوية) وليس لمعامل الطاقة.
الرئيس عون خلال استقباله وفداً عراقياً برئاسة وزير الصحة والبيئة: نقدّر للعراق موافقته على طلب لبنان تزويده بالنفط الخام مقابل الخدمات الطبية، وآمل في التوصل الى سوق مشتركة بين دول المشرق وسأعاود طرح هذه المبادرة
My latest: The Difficult Task Of Offering Aid To Lebanon’s Ailing Power Sector, via
@forbes
. I chased the Siemens Energy electric power offer to
#Lebanon
after
#Beirut
blast. The offer changed due to various constraints in Lebanon. . Details in thread:
1) I will begin with a solution that‘s been publicly advanced by
@IRConsilium
.David Soud from
@IRConsilium
warns that keeping oil onboard “is not safe, not tenable, & it is not responsible." The oil needs “to first be safe & secure" before anything else.
Red Sea Update
1/2 We have now updated our ArcGIS StoryMap with all the attacks that have taken place since yesterday in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yesterday, both U.S. CENTCOM forces and EUNAVFOR operation ASPIDES repelled Houthi attacks. Today, a container ship,
Updates on MAERSK vessels: 1- EUGEN MAERSK (IMO 9321550) AND METTE MAERSK (IMO 9632155) have now been diverted via the Cape of Good Hope. These two container ships were supposed to sail through the Red Sea prior to the attack on the MAERSK HANGZHOU by the end of Dec. I have been
Notes on Maersk's statement today, and some vessels: the company said it will "pause all transits through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden until further notice" as investigation continues into the recent attack on the MAERSK HANGZHOU (IMO 9784300) and while it "further assesses the
On Lebanon's civil society: I have noticed that a number of observers are trying to understand the
#LebanonProtests
. The protests are not magic.They’re product of years of work:The work of Lebanon's civil society that needs to be acknowledged. #لبنان_يثور #لبنان__ينتفض
#Beirut
Our analysis on Iran's attack on container ship MSC Aries has been uploaded to
@WashInstitute
map which tracks maritime attacks in the Middle East since 2019. Below is a thread with details on Iran's maritime attacks since 2019 which I have been working on with my colleague
Red Sea Update
1/2 The crude oil tanker, WIND (IMO 9252967), which the Houthis targeted today in the southern Red Sea was carrying Russian cargo loaded at the Sheskharis oil terminal, and sailing most likely to China based on AIS data from 2 days ago,
@Kpler
. The vessel
If interested, I will shortly have a presentation at
#iogs2020
in
#Baghdad
in which I discuss Iraq’s Basrah crude exports amid US sanctions on Iran. And I have an upcoming piece on this topic soon. The panel will be moderated by
@lcmporter
.
12) Some officials are spreading misinformation, some local media outlets are carrying it. Ordinary Lebanese citizens have enough on their plates& cannot think of how the oil industry works. Prioritize accuracy over notifications and fast publishing/tweeting.
#Iraq
, Heard of the Makhool Dam project?
@HarryIstepanian
& I looked into it. It poses threats to the remains of
#Ashur
, ancient capital of Assyrian empire. Science says geologic structures=unsuitable for building the dam. So what's going on?
@IraqEnergy
In Sept2019 and at a forum in Baghdad (RCD) an advisor to Iraq PM (back then)) said that “if price of oil drops to $40
#Iraq
will have
difficulties with payments such as salaries.” Oil revenues=around 90 percent of budget-most of it for public salaries.
Also issue of oil exports and dependency on it for revenues & challenges was discussed. An advisor to Iraq PM said that “if price of oil drops to $40
#Iraq
will have difficulties with payments such as salaries.” 6
1)Oil tankers in general have never stopped calling on Lebanon. Tankers laden with fuel oil ( for power generation), gasoil/diesel, gasoline, and LPG (cooking gas). Lebanon is not under "siege" as some continue to say without offering solid data.
#Iraq
's oil ministry announced today the "start of trial operations" at the 140,000 bpd Karbala refinery- considered part of Iraq's refinery upgrade plans to address product imbalance & improve product yields. (Photo circulated by the oil ministry)
#OOTT
. More below:
#Lebanon
: Some have reached out to discuss last week's news about Lebanon's oil imports. Here's a thread about what's been happening since *July 2020*:
NEW Red Sea Update
1/3 We added more details to the Houthi-launched UAV and ASBM attacks that took place this week in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and which involved commercial ships, US CENTCOM/Coalition forces, and EUNAVFOR operation ASPIDES. We also updated some data, so if
Red Sea Update
1/2 We have now updated our ArcGIS StoryMap with all the attacks that have taken place since yesterday in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yesterday, both U.S. CENTCOM forces and EUNAVFOR operation ASPIDES repelled Houthi attacks. Today, a container ship,
Thanks
@mercoglianos
for flagging. Note that these same tugboats were hired for 2 other salvage operations earlier this year. They are subject to US sanctions ( Iran- related). They reportedly had to receive US exceptions. One salvage operation did not go through and that was
Tugs Gladiator and Hercules are in the Gulf of Aden on standby to conduct the salvage of MT Sounion.
The
#Houthis
state they will permit the salvage (after striking the ship, causing the crew to abandon ship, then boarding the tanker, setting explosive charges & setting it on
4)As I type this tweet, there are at least 3 oil tankers in Beirut, two off Jiyeh— that include 1 that has had to wait for ~ 1 month to charge,&2 off Tripoli. At least 2 are signaling for Beirut (heading to Beirut), according to
@MarineTraffic
Red Sea Thread
1/4 On April 9, the Chinese-flagged container ship Jin Shun He (IMO 9144316) left the Red Sea port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and sailed north to the port of NEOM. This is the first sailing of the North Red Sea Express (NRX) service launched by Saudi Arabia’s Folk
10) If any group wants to import on its own, then what infrastructure are they going to use? What tanks are they going to use to store the oil, what pipelines to move the oil from tanker to storage? I hope the Directorate General of Oil is keeping an eye on this issue.
#Lebanon
My latest: this time on the long-sought Iraq-Jordan crude oil pipeline project via
@forbes
Even though
#Baghdad
and Amman have confirmed they will both continue pursuing the “strategic” project at a later stage, challenges abound.
#Iraq
#Jordan
#OOTT
3) Portraying Lebanon as a country that needs the help of a western or eastern oil supplier to import one tanker is untrue. Any official that claims so needs to provide data that Lebanon is not receiving its oil requirements.
Photos circulated by Al Masirah ( Houthi TV channel) that claims air raids today on Hudaydah in Yemen were “Israeli raids” that targeted “oil storage installations” at the port.
#Yemen
#Houthis
#OOTT
#RedSea
Red Sea Update
Thread
1/3 There have been a few confirmed Houthi-led attacks on commercial ships over the past days. There have also been unconfirmed/false attacks. We have filtered and listed them in our
@WashInstitute
map that covers maritime attacks in the Middle East since
#Maersk
said today in its latest update that it has "decided that all Maersk vessels due to transit the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden will be diverted south around the Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future."
#OOTT
#RedSea
Amid the
#Gaza
war, a thread on the status of some energy infrastructure in the East Med region, and how the energy sector is one indicator of the heavy (heavier) costs the region will pay in case of a wider conflict.
#OOTT
5) Had Lebanon been « under siege » we would not be seeing all those tankers. If there’s a different meaning for « under siege » then I’m ready to correct myself.
#Iraq
in 1955: Water-skiing on the Tigris, and the first all-Iraqi cricket club. Photos published by Iraq Petroleum at the time (The magazine of the Iraq Petroleum Company Limited and its Associated Companies- February 1955). Some details below:
مقالي هذه المرة صادر بالعربي على موقع
@Attaqa2
حول موضوع قطاع التصفية في #العراق الذي تم التطرق اليه عدة مرات هذا الشهر (مثلا خلال زيارة الوزير إحسان إسماعيل الى مصفاتي القيارة والصمود(بيجي)، وخلال اجتماع نظمه مجلس الأعمال العراقي). . التفاصيل 👇🏽.
Here’s a chart I created for the first 5 months 2018-2020, showing the drop in
#Iraq
federal crude oil revenues so far this year compared to previous years. The thread below contains data on 2020 federal crude oil exports/oil revenues/Avg sale price.
#OOTT
8-b) How can it be said that « there’s a company that can build the refinery »? Like it or not, there’s a tender process that needs to take place and the Tenders Board needs to have a say in it. Risks factors are very high in Lebanon now, and investors will shy away.
2)The problem is the financial crisis that has made it difficult to pay for oil imports whether those for power generation ( EDL) for example or the private sector (gasoline). But some tankers are waiting more than others. Some are offloading in a short period.
6) Re statements that "2 refineries can be built in Zahrani". For those who don't know: The topic of rebuilding refineries/rehabilitating old ones was raised in 1991, 2000, 2001.
#Lebanon
was still talking about this in 2005 with Kuwait, and Qatar in 2006. Nothing happened.
"مقابل خدمات طبية": لا يمكن للبنان تقديم خدمات طبية للعراق في ظل هذا الوضع. ووزير الصحة العراقي حسن التميمي وصل الى #بيروت البارحة مع مساعدات طبية للبنان. اذا هذا امر غير واضح. يعني لبنان يقدم خدمات طبية للعراق و العراق يقدم مساعدات طبية للبنان؟ شو هل الحكي؟
#Iraq
oil ministry says in statement that only employees with US citizenship and who work at oil companies in south Iraq left “at request of their govt.” 2) “The situation is normal at all oilfields across Iraq and exports and production operations unaffected.”
#Basra
#OOTT
Red Sea Update
All the details on the crude oil tanker Delta Blue (IMO 9601235) the Houthis attacked multiple times Thursday and Friday can be found in our updated map below. The tanker, owned by Greece-based Delta Tankers, reappeared in the Red Sea ( AIS on) earlier today
The target today was Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Delta Blue (IMO 9601235), according to UKMTO. This is for Greece-based Delta Tankers. Vessel continued sailing. Delta Blue is carrying a cargo of Iraqi crude oil most likely for MOH Corinth refinery, Greece, according to data
Overdue Thread: 1)When
#Lebanon
govt received gasoil shipments (*in aid*/trucked) from
#Iraq
after
#Beirut
blast, it acted as the victim, and no one was asking anymore about the lies re fuel imports and why there were shortages in oil products in past months.
The crude oil tanker Huang Pu's (IMO 9402469) ownership information and name changed recently. The tanker's registered owner has been Hong Kong-based Hera Gam Limited since February 7, 2024. Beneficial owner from October 21, 2019 until January 28, 2024 was a UK-based company, one
MARCH 23 RED SEA UPDATE
From 2:50 to 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time)
March 23, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) into the Red Sea in the vicinity of M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker.
At 4:25 p.m.
يتناول مقالي ل
@Attaqa2
حركة صادرات النفط الخام العراقي في أكتوبر بالتزامن مع انتعاش حذر في الطلب الاسيوي،لاسيما في الهند أحد أهم مستوردي نفط #العراق و ثاني أكبر مستهلك للنفط في آسيا.المقال يتضمن بيانات وآراء من
@Kpler
@hfalakshahi
وأيضًا
@HarryIstepanian
2/3 On This Week's Attacks, and Oil Flows:
There has been a focus this week on the aggressiveness of the Houthis and the nature of the attacks against two commercial vessels. But if you've been tracking how such attacks have been evolving over the past months, you'd know there's
#Lebanon
: if you’re wondering if there are ships bound for 🇱🇧 & delayed due to Ever Given incident in
#Suez
: the oil tankers include 1 vessel Al Soor Ii (IMO 9329784)-
@kpler
- bound for Zahrani- from Kuwait. Usually cargoes from there for Leb are gasoil. Read my notes below:
RED SEA UPDATE
1/3 Another very aggressive maritime attacks by the Houthis. Two attacks were reported today ( and one ship appears to have been targeted twice). One of the vessels reportedly involved an oil tanker- minor damage based on available info (source: Diaplous via
1/3 After Houthi Attack on Stealth Maritime Oil Tanker:
A Stealth Maritime tanker carrying Russian oil diverted around the Cape of Good Hope?
Following the recent Houthi USV attack on Chios Lion (IMO 9398280), a crude oil tanker linked to Stealth Maritime and signaling for
My Latest: Unusual Course For Iranian Tanker On Heavy Sour Crude Mission, using the latest findings of
@TankerTrackers
on this
#Iran
VLCC. It reappeared this month after almost a year-long absence with unusual path to Asia.
#OOTT
via
@forbes
8-a)Building a modern refinery that addresses the oil products needs of
#Lebanon
does not happen in a few months. Move country to fiscal stability first. And you cannot build a refinery of 20k bpd or 30k bpd like the old ones. Domestic market needs have changed since 1980s.
Red Sea Update
INSIGHT: Behind Houthi Attacks on Ships Operated by Greece-Based Companies
1/6 The Marshall Islands–flagged bulk carrier Laax (IMO 9512355), which the Houthis attacked on May 28, is operated by a company that had other bulk carriers visiting Iran's Bandar
#Lebanon
: Following the
#Beirut
port blast, several articles criticized open ship registries and this system's loopholes. Almost 2 years since then, it is business as usual in the maritime industry. In Lebanon, deficient vessels continue to find their way to Lebanese ports.
Red Sea Update (Beyond What's Being Repeated)
On the Blue Lagoon I Attack and the Saudi Oil Tanker Incident
1/2
Summary: The Blue Lagoon I (IMO 9248447) which was attacked on Sept 2 sailed in the Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea between July 13 and July 14 and was able to
Red Sea and Map Updates:
It hasn’t been quiet in the
#RedSea
. Below are 6 observations, and more details soon in the
@WashInstitute
map on maritime attacks ( link below).
1) Houthi-led attacks are ongoing and new trends are emerging as the sharp fall in ship transits that
It's been 2 weeks since the
#BeirutExplosion
.Over 170 people are dead. 6000+ wounded. This is my first thread since Aug4 with my article via
@forbes
.I examine some data on substandard ship RHOSUS& a different visit it made to Sidon in June2013.
#Lebanon
11) Any petroleum product Lebanon imports should have specifications that meet standards that are supposed to be respected in Lebanon. Some officials have been speaking as if all oil products are the same and can be used in Lebanon.
#Iraq
‘s April crude exports +federal oil revenues:
Overall exports: 3.438 million bpd (3.351mnbpd from Basrah)
Average price per barrel: *$ 13.801*
Federal oil revenues: “more than” *$1.423 billion* (Iraq oil ministry), See below to compare to previous months
#OOTT
#لبنان، شو صار الشهر الماضي بموضوع الغاز اويل، كيف توقف معمل الزهراني وبعده دير عمار، شو قصة مواصفات الناقلة Histria Perla ، مين فهم/فهمت شو يعني ASTM D٣٨١ ببيان كهرباء لبنان، وشو الفرق بين النفط الخام و الفيول اويل؟ هيدا مقالي
@Attaqa2
The incident today (Dec 30) involved Singapore-flagged container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU (IMO 9784300) - was sailing from Singapore signaling for the Suez Canal. The attack is once again against international shipping. The ship did call on Israel's Haifa port in October and several
USS GRAVELY shoots down two anti-ship ballistic missiles while responding to Houthi attack on merchant vessel.
Today at approximately 8:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU reported that they were struck by a missile while transiting the Southern Red Sea. The
My latest on the Jaguar S oil products tanker off Zahrani,
#Lebanon
. It’s a high risk tanker recently involved in moving oil to
#Syria
. Thread below.
9) It is true that strong government is absent, but this does not mean that any political group can take charge of Lebanon's imports. The public oil infrastructure is under the charge of the government. Otherwise, let the laws be changed and new decrees be issued.
Al Mayadeen TV released a 46 mins report about the Bahamas-flagged car carrier Galaxy Leader, owned by Israel-based Ray Shipping and operated by Japan's NYK Group when it was hijacked by the Houthis in Nov 2023. My comments:
Some may focus on a missile that appears in the
Latest:The Art of Sanctions-busting, Part Two: How Three LPG Tankers Set Sail for
#Syria
@EnergyFuse
.This is a continuation of a story I wrote last Dec. on 2 tankers including the Melody which I first revealed its voyage.
#LPG
#sanctions
Thread below:
#لبنان #العراق — بموضوع اتفاقية الفيول اويل بين العراق و لبنان، وقبل البيانات غدًا اذا تم التوقيع: الفيول اويل، وبحسب كلام وزير الطاقة يوم حزيران ١٧، لن يصل الى لبنان كفيول اويل عراقي لانه و كما قال الوزير بشهر شباط الماضي: غير مطابق للمواصفات المتبعة بلبنان.التفاصيل هي التالية:
Red Sea Update:
Today, bulk carrier CYCLADES ( IMO 9799616) came under attack in the southern Red Sea. No statement yet from the Houthis. The ship, and according to
@MarineTraffic
,departed the Yemeni port of Saleef on April 15. One shipping database shows that the owner is
The Turkey-Syria LPG Shipments & The Lebanon Link article analyses Turkish LPG export data, tracks shipments to
#Syria
, and digs into LPG demand/ import slump in
#Lebanon
.
@Kpler
@TankerTrackers
@MarineTraffic
. Here's a short summary:
#Maersk
ship update, as other operators continue to transit the
#RedSea
: MAREN MAERSK (IMO 9632129) is now seen returning to the Suez Canal, AIS data shows. The container ship left Tanger Med port, Morocco, on Dec 24 and its destination was Singapore, according to Maersk's
My Red Sea Update
Five Lessons from the Sounion Salvage Crisis in the Red Sea
1/2 In my new piece, I use the data we have been collecting on the Red Sea crisis/Houthi attacks since Nov 2023, including previous salvage operations, to offer practical measures that can be taken now
#Iraq
, here’s the updated chart on the federal crude oil revenues. Avg price/barrel in May was $65.842 compared to $70.778 in June. June revenues slightly over $6bn.
Latest on
#RedSea
Houthi-led attacks :
1/6 The
#Houthis
today attacked MSC-owned container ship MSC SKY II in the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claimed the vessel is "Israeli" but shipping data from different sources show the owner as Switzerland-based MSC. Previous owners of the
THREAD ON RED SEA ATTACKS
1/4 The UKMTO update below is on the attack against general cargo ship VERBENA (IMO 9522075) that took place on *June 13, 2024*. The ship has been abandoned and drifting, with the Master saying that it is "sinking." We have updated our
@WashInstitute
My latest for
@EnergyFuse
.1) I look at
#Iran
's oil shipments to
#Syria
-key destination for Iranian oil under U.S. sanctions, using
@TankerTrackers
data 2) I highlight how price war now could impact some
#OPEC
members that took over Iran's market share.
All the information on the high-risk FSO SAFER is available to the public, and experts have been explaining what needs to be done to avert a disaster for over two years. Yet no solution has been agreed upon. My latest via
@forbes
.
#Yemen
#SAFER
Amid all the commotion now over those
#Iran
-flagged oil tankers heading to Venezuela, imp to note that
@TankerTrackers
, while utilizing various tools inc. satellite imagery,did a top-notch reporting 2 days ago on that,getting the exact starting point. Word of the Day: Credit.
Given that the details of our discovery have now gone public without crediting us, we now have no obvious option other than to lift the news embargo. Congrats, leakers. Premium subscribing journalists are advised to coordinate with us for sake of accuracy. Thanks.
#لبنان يتناول
@salmanonline
في تقريره موضوع يجب أن يبقى في العناوين العريضة: استيراد المشتقات النفطية وتوزيعها، وهذا موضوع من بين المواضيع العديدة التي تبرز ١)نفوذ السياسيين في بعض الشركات الخاصة التي تستورد الفيول (للعلم هناك حوالي 12 شركة). تابع ٢)
Red Sea Update:
The Houthis launched two attacks on a general cargo ship (with container capacity) and a container ship on June 8 using three ASBMs and 1 ASCM. The general cargo ( Norderney- IMO 9506124) sustained damage but was able to continue sailing. The Houthis did not
Take a look at this video. This may confirm initial reports that the Houthis boarded ( *last week*) the
#Sounion
, planted explosives and detonated them from a distance. They knew exactly what they were doing with the explosions on both the port side deck and starboard side deck
#Lebanon
: My new work for
@amwajmedia
on the current disorder in Lebanon’s energy sector: what triggered it, immediate solution to allow discharge of more fuel ships- ready to be offloaded- &Hezbollah’s narrative of need for Iranian oil in light of this:
3/3 Some keep asking why the Houthis are attacking those commercial vessels. The Yemeni group has an agenda, and they have divided their maritime campaign into five phases so far, and they've been following it. I summarize below the phases based on statements from the group, and