For those not familiar with the logistics surrounding the alternative routes for Saudi crude if the Bab el-Mandeb Strait becomes shut <editted>: 1⃣ You normally load VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) which take 2 mb of crude from Yanbu currently and Ras Tanura when Strait of Hormuz is open. 2⃣ These VLCCs are typically the most cost economic way to freight Middle Eastern crude into Asia. 3⃣ If the VLCC cannot transit Bab el-Mandeb strait, then it has to go north up the Red Sea and go to Ain Sukhna port, discharge part of the 2 mb cargo into the Sumed pipeline and transit via the Suez Canal at a lighter draft, to then reload the balance cargo from Sidi Kerir. Then this VLCC goes a biggggggg round from the Mediterranean Sea, make a bigggggg detour round the Cape of Good Hope to go into Asia. This extra step takes about 30 days and a lot more handling cost. <Use Google Maps to visualize what I just said> 4⃣Another way is to load the crude at Yanbu with Suezmaxes which can take 1 mb of cargo only. Use this Suezmax to transit via the Suez Canal and do that whole rerouting using the Med Sea and Cape of Good Hope. Chartering Suezmax to load 2 mb of cargo generally economically unfavourable compared to the VLCC option, but the new VLCC option is really quite bad as well. 5⃣If your cargo HAS loaded already on a VLCC, you would need to use the Sumed pipeline way, or split the cargo into 2 Suezmax to utilize the Suez Canal way. All the above is $$$$$ and extra time (not to mention vessel losses also). #oott