Houthis Formalize Red Sea Control Through Maritime Licensing System

The Houthi movement has transitioned from kinetic attacks to a structured administrative blockade in the Red Sea, establishing a formal maritime licensing system to control commercial traffic. Operating through the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOOC), the group is now issuing transit clearances and operational directives to vessels navigating the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

Shipping companies are increasingly advising masters to contact the HOOC to obtain prior clearance, particularly following the group’s declared blockade of Saudi Arabian ports earlier this year. While vessels with no ties to the U.S., UK, or Israel were previously considered safe, the new vigilance suggests a broadening of the Houthi criteria for targeting and a desire for explicit administrative compliance.

The Permitting Process

The HOOC functions as a de facto maritime authority, providing responses to safe-passage requests within 24 hours. To obtain clearance, captains must pledge that their vessels have no links to prohibited nations and affirm compliance with the Houthi-issued ban on traffic to and from Saudi Arabian port facilities. In exchange, the HOOC provides confirmation of passage across the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.

The operational reality of this system was recently illustrated by the Chinese container ship Zhong Cheng Chang Ling. The vessel’s master provided a formal pledge of non-affiliation and compliance with both Houthi restrictions and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). Upon receiving clearance, the ship was ordered to maintain active AIS and VHF channel 16, follow specific shipping lines, and avoid proximity to military vessels.

Operational and Regulatory Conflict

This development forces a critical choice for shipowners and masters between international legal frameworks and physical security. International maritime organizations have emphasized that the HOOC mechanism is illegal and have urged ships not to seek permission from the group. Furthermore, the U.S. has designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, meaning that formal coordination with the HOOC carries significant regulatory and sanctions risks.

Beyond simple passage, the HOOC directives represent an attempt to exert operational command over the waterway. By requiring vessels to report suspicious activity and notify the group of destination changes, the Houthis are effectively integrating compliant commercial shipping into their situational awareness network. The Zhong Cheng Chang Ling, for instance, adjusted its AIS broadcast to “Armed Guard On Board” on September 8 while following Houthi instructions, before eventually proceeding to its destination in Malaysia on September 11.

The establishment of a telephone hotline and email service by the HOOC suggests the Houthis intend to permanentize this shadow regulatory regime. As more vessels comply to ensure safety, the group’s ability to enforce its blockade of Saudi ports through administrative means—rather than just missile strikes—becomes a formalized component of Red Sea trade.

Source: Marine Insight