On August 1, Yemen's Houthi maritime coordination agency stated that it is not planning to charge fees for commercial vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. They confirmed that no such decision has been made, and that transit through this key waterway remains free.
This statement comes after a Reuters report on Wednesday, which referenced regional sources indicating that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering implementing fees for ships navigating the southern Red Sea. This was reported just a week after they announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.
According to the sources in the Reuters article, discussions about these fees took place with Iranian officials during a visit by Houthi representatives to Tehran in July, but no specific timeline for implementing the fees was established.
The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) mentioned that its “safe transit service is voluntary and free of charge.”
“The HOCC firmly asserts that anyone asking for payment in exchange for transit through the Bab el-Mandeb strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any way,” they noted in their statement.
Additionally, the HOCC advised shipping companies not to make any payments or share information with unauthorized individuals or groups.