Yemen’s Houthis have imposed a maritime licensing system in the Red Sea to control commercial shipping traffic through the critical waterway, especially after the Group declared a blockade of Saudi Arabian Ports this year.
According to sources, shipping companies have advised captains of contacting an entity called the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center or HOOC that was formed by Houthis in 2024.
Through this administrative body, the Houthis give out warnings to ships, and also provide instructions regarding passage and impose shipping restrictions.
Ships send safe-passage requests to this body and according to captains and crew members, the reply from the Houthis comes within 24 hours.
Usually, ships without connections to the U.S, the U.K or Israel don’t need to contact the HOOC for transit requests, however since the declaration of Saudi Arabian port ban by the Group, maritime companies have become vigilant and contact the body for getting prior clearance to avoid getting attacked.
An email sent by one of the captains illustrates the process. A captain of a
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