Transponders switched off: How tankers with Saudi oil for India are exiting Red Sea by going ‘dark’
Two tankers carrying Saudi crude to Indian refiners exited the Red Sea by temporarily switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders.
The Suezmax tanker Amazon, chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), loaded 1 million barrels at Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port.
The Aframax tanker Rodos loaded 700,000 barrels for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) around July 20.
Both vessels initially headed north towards the Suez Canal but changed course after disabling transponders, sailing south through Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Indian refiners have increasingly opted to purchase Middle Eastern crude on a delivered basis following Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers.
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