Yemeni Houthi authorities have officially dismissed media claims suggesting plans to impose transit fees on commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea shipping lanes.
In an official statement, the Houthi-administered Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) clarified that their safe transit coordination for commercial maritime traffic remains voluntary and completely free of charge.
Key Declarations from HOCC:
- Rejection of Financial Demands: The center emphasized that any entity claiming or requesting monetary payments for passage does not represent the HOCC or Yemeni authorities.
- Advisory to Maritime Operators: Shipping firms have been advised to refrain from transferring funds or providing sensitive vessel data to unauthorized third parties claiming to collect transit fees.
- Context of the Denial: The clarification follows an international news agency report citing sources that Houthi leadership was weighing proposals to tax merchant ships operating in regional waters—a claim the group has now firmly refuted.
📊 Fact-Sheet Summary
- Key Entity: Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC / Houthis).
- Core Issue: Rejection of Reuters report regarding commercial ship fee imposition in the Red Sea.
- Official Stance: Transit clearance services remain zero-cost; shipping operators warned against fraudulent payment requests.
