Before traversing the Red Sea, some commercial ship operating companies are contacting Yemen’s Houthi rebels via email. They are seeking assurance for safe passage by providing information on the ship’s identity, ownership, and potential route. Some ships are explicitly stating that they have no affiliation with the United States, the United Kingdom, or Israel.
A report by The Wall Street Journal states that ship operating companies are using an informal email system to communicate with the Houthis. This incident indicates how much the security situation and the reality of control have changed in this vital maritime route.
According to the report, ship operators are contacting the Houthi-established ‘Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center’ (HOCC). This center, established in early 2024, receives information about a ship’s identity, destination, and potential route.
In some cases, ships inform that they have no affiliation with the United States, the United Kingdom, or Israel. Following this, they seek assurance for safe passage through the Red Sea. The report states that the Houthis usually respond to these applications within approximately 24 hours. After reviewing the applications, some ships are also given specific instructions regarding their journey.
The Wall Street Journal also highlighted an example of this system’s practical application. China’s container ship ‘Zhong Cheng Chang Ling’ contacted the Houthis via email. After reviewing the ship’s identity and planned journey information, the Houthis granted permission for seven days of passage. Simultaneously, the ship was instructed to keep its Automatic Identification System (AIS) active throughout the journey.
AIS broadcasts information about a ship’s identity, position, speed, and direction of travel. This allows other ships and relevant authorities to identify its location. However, security advisories note that in conflict zones, such information can also increase the risk of attacks by revealing a ship’s position.
Ship operating companies are essentially trying to balance two risks: taking the shorter route through the Red Sea, or taking the longer route around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the entire region due to security concerns.
The Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait connect the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal. Disruption to shipping along this route significantly impacts goods transportation between Asia and Europe. Due to the risk of Houthi attacks, many shipping companies have already chosen to route their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. This increases fuel costs, travel time, and transportation expenses.
In this situation, some companies are attempting to secure assurances of safe passage from the Houthis to continue their journeys through the Red Sea. However, the use of this email system does not mean that all ships must obtain Houthi permission before entering the Red Sea. The Houthis claim that ships with no affiliation to the United States, the United Kingdom, or Israel can pass. Nevertheless, following their declaration of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, some companies have begun contacting HOCC as an additional precaution.
Conversely, international maritime authorities have advised ships against communicating with or registering with HOCC. US maritime security alerts have also warned against following instructions from the Houthis. This is because providing information about a ship’s location and movements could create a risk of them being targeted. In essence, permission granted by the Houthis is not considered internationally recognized clearance for navigation.
The Iran-backed Houthi group controls a vast area of northwestern Yemen. Since late 2023, they have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. These attacks have created uncertainty in international trade and energy supply.
In July 2026, following a renewed escalation of tensions with Saudi Arabia, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against the kingdom. In addition to threatening to halt Saudi-affiliated shipping, attacks also occurred on Saudi territory and energy facilities. This further increased security risks in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Overall, this Houthi email system for Red Sea shipping highlights a new reality. Some commercial vessels are seeking assurances of safe passage from an armed group instead of internationally recognized maritime authorities. This makes the risks to security, control, and international trade on one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes even more apparent.