DeepDraft Weekly Maritime Brief | September 13, 2026: Bab el-Mandeb Foothold Meets Gulf Tanker Risk

<p>Full Weekly Brief: <a href="https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/09/13/bab-el-mandeb-gulf-tanker-risk-september-13-2026/">https://thedeepdraft.com/2026/09/13/bab-el-mandeb-gulf-tanker-risk-september-13-2026/</a></p><p>Two chokepoints now carry active control pressure. In the Red Sea, Houthi movement around Bab el-Mandeb has pushed routing confidence, naval coordination, insurance cover, and crew-risk acceptance back into the centre of voyage planning.</p><p>In the Gulf, tanker strikes, reduced Hormuz traffic, and record VLCC rates are turning passage approval into a commercial and security decision before the vessel reaches the lane. This episode also looks at AI-enabled targeting preparation, Gulf of Aden piracy response, fatal vessel-fire casualties, and this week’s DeepDraft analysis on tanker enclosed-space entry permits and CO₂ testing.</p><p><br></p>