Discover the Abie: Ratings & Maritime News

The voyage of the 'Abqaiq', a tanker owned by the Saudi shipping giant Bahri, has sparked intrigue as it journeys across the Atlantic to Venezuela, a country currently facing severe sanctions. This journey represents a rare shipping route between two OPEC nations, raising questions about its cargo intentions. The 'Abqaiq' departed from Yanbu, a port city in the Red Sea, on January 20, 2019, and made a brief stop at Algeciras, a well-known bunkering location, on January 30. After this stop, the tanker is heading towards the José crude terminal in Venezuela, with an anticipated arrival date of February 11, 2019, which coincides with the period shortly after the U.S. imposed significant sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA, on January 27, 2019. Notably, Bahri's fleet exclusively operates under the directives of state-owned Saudi Aramco, focusing on crude oil transportation. It's important to highlight that there have been no Saudi-owned tankers publicly tracked traveling to Venezuela in over two years leading up to this movement. In response to the developments, Bahri has stated that the 'Abqaiq' is currently in ballast condition, indicating it is moving without cargo, and is en route to the José Terminal to pick up a cargo for one of its longstanding clients in India. This particular shipment was contracted on January 9, 2019, prior to the U.S. sanctions taking effect on January 28, and is expected to be finalized within the exemption window permitted for existing contracts.

Security expert Dryad Maritime has conducted a detailed analysis of the attack on the Bahri tanker Abqaiq, which occurred on April 3. Reports indicate that the vessel was under the protection of a Saudi warship when it was struck approximately 45 miles west of Hoedida. The damage was localized to the starboard bow, likely affecting the forepeak engine room or storage area rather than the cargo compartment. Engineers estimate the damage at about 0.5 to 1 meter wide, with a penetrating hole measuring between 20 to 30 centimeters. The steel structure was found to be bent inward, suggesting penetration from the starboard side. An unverified report from a local source claimed that the outer hull was penetrated while the inner layer experienced significant stress yet remained intact. Although there was notable paint damage, the absence of a characteristic 'spall pattern' typically associated with a rocket propelled grenade attack raised suspicions regarding the nature of the incident. The dimensions of the breach led analysts to conclude that it is improbable an RPG was fired from a small boat. For further insights, check the full report with supporting images: http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=28837:dryad-maritime-analyzes-attack-on-bahri-tanker-abqaiq&Itemid=257

On April 3, 2018, the oil tanker 'Abqaiq' was struck by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi militia while navigating international waters in the Red Sea, approximately 48 miles west-southwest of the key Yemeni port of Hodeidah (al Hudaydah). Thanks to the timely response from a coalition warship, the tanker managed to avoid catastrophic damage, although it sustained minor damage from the projectile. Despite this incident, the vessel was able to continue its journey northward in the Red Sea without further complications. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, reassured that the missile attack would not disrupt oil supplies, asserting that oil operations and shipments remained unaffected and security measures around facilities within the kingdom were unchanged.