The Yanbu passage, utilizing the 1,200-km East-West (Petroline) pipeline, serves as Saudi Arabia's primary alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, allowing oil from the eastern fields to reach the Red Sea port of Yanbu. With capacity for up to 5–7 million bpd, it acts as a critical bypass during Iranian threats or conflict, but its reliance on the Houthi-vulnerable Bab al-Mandab Strait and limited capacity relative to total exports makes it an incomplete, risk-exposed alternative. 


The Yanbu Passage: Hormuz Blocked, Saudi's Inland Pipeline Keeps Oil Flowing

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had intercepted an explosive-laden boat off the Red Sea port of Yanbu after maritime security firms cited 'unconfirmed reports' of an attack on a vessel in the area.&nbsp;

A Saudi defence ministry statement on state media did not say whether there had been any damage as a result of the operation by the Saudi navy to intercept and destroy the remote-controlled boat.&nbsp;

Security firm Dryad Global had earlier said it received 'unconfirmed reports' that a vessel, possibly the oil tanker NCC Dammam owned by a unit of Saudi firm Bahri, had been attacked off Yanbu. &nbsp;

Chief executive Abdullah Aldubaikhi said that no vessels owned by National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) had been attacked.&nbsp;

British maritime security company Ambry also cited reports of an incident and said smoke was seen rising from a vessel. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it was aware of reports of an incident approximately two nautical miles from Yanbu and that investigations were ongoing.&nbsp;

Vessels have previously come under attack in Red Sea waters.&nbsp;

In December, Saudi Arabia said a tanker anchored at the Jeddah port was hit by an explosive-laden boat. This followed a separate incident at another Saudi terminal on the Red Sea where a tanker was damaged by an explosion.&nbsp;

A Saudi Arabian-led military coalition engaged in Yemen has in the past foiled attempted assaults using explosive-laden boats it says are launched by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement.&nbsp;

The Saudi defence ministry said it was investigating, who was behind Tuesday's 'hostile attempt'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had intercepted an explosive-laden boat off the Red Sea port of Yanbu after maritime security firms cited 'unconfirmed reports' of an attack on a vessel in the area.

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had intercepted an explosive-laden boat off the Red Sea port of Yanbu after maritime security firms cited 'unconfirmed reports' of an attack on a vessel in the area. A Saudi defence ministry statement on state media did not say whether there had been any damage as a result of the operation by the Saudi navy to intercept and destroy the remote-controlled boat. Security firm Dryad Global had earlier said it received 'unconfirmed reports' that a vessel, possibly the oil tanker NCC Dammam owned by a unit of Saudi firm Bahri, had been attacked off Yanbu. Chief executive Abdullah Aldubaikhi said that no vessels owned by National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) had been attacked. British maritime security company Ambry also cited reports of an incident and said smoke was seen rising from a vessel. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it was aware of reports of an incident approximately two nautical miles from Yanbu and that investigations were ongoing. Vessels have previously come under attack in Red Sea waters. In December, Saudi Arabia said a tanker anchored at the Jeddah port was hit by an explosive-laden boat. This followed a separate incident at another Saudi terminal on the Red Sea where a tanker was damaged by an explosion. A Saudi Arabian-led military coalition engaged in Yemen has in the past foiled attempted assaults using explosive-laden boats it says are launched by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The Saudi defence ministry said it was investigating, who was behind Tuesday's 'hostile attempt'. (With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia foils boat attack off Yanbu 

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