Temporary Suspension of Pink Route Ferry
The Department of Marine & Ports Services advises the public and all users of the Pink Route ferry service that service on this route will be suspended from Monday, 27 July 2026 through Wednesday, 29 July 2026 due to urgent repairs being carried out on the ferry.
The Department apologizes for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause and appreciates the public’s understanding and patience while these necessary repairs are completed.
Bermuda’s National Stadium came alive Saturday night as BDA Summer Jam returned.
Headlined by Jamaican dancehall star Mavado, the high-energy event continued well into the early hours of the morning, with fans singing along, dancing and enjoying the summer atmosphere. Kendal Trott shares some of the event’s highlights.
On July 20, the Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, the Hon. Owen Darrell, JP, MP, met with the newly appointed Mayor of the City of Hamilton, Mr Michael Branco, for an official introductory meeting.
Minister Darrell said, “It was a pleasure to meet Mayor Branco and congratulate him on his appointment. I look forward to working together to support initiatives that strengthen the City of Hamilton and benefit Bermuda.”
The introductory meeting provided an opportunity for both leaders to discuss matters that overlap between both entities, such as cruise ship calls into Hamilton, developments within the city, and community partnerships and events, while reaffirming their commitment to maintaining a strong working relationship between the Ministry of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, and the City of Hamilton.
Minister Darrell wished Mayor Branco every success in his new role and expressed his confidence that continued collaboration will help advance opportunities that benefit the City of Hamilton and Bermuda as a whole.
The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will close on Sunday 26 July and relocate to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s (KEMH) Emergency Department Fast Track.
This decision comes as current operational pressures, including staffing challenges and a high number of admitted patients boarding in the Emergency Department, with further admissions expected tomorrow and minimal anticipated discharges.
All fast track patients (Level 4 and 5) will now be assessed and treated within the ED Fast Track area. This change is intended to support improved patient flow and reduce waiting times for assessment and treatment during this period of increased demand.
If your condition is not urgent and you are able to safely wait to be seen by your GP, please consider doing so, as this will help us prioritise those patients who require more immediate emergency care.
Emergency Department
Expected Wait Times
Patients are seen and treated based on acuity, or the severity of their condition, and not in the order they arrive. Below are the approximate wait times you can expect based on your acuity level.
Acuity Wait Time
Level 1 Immediate
Level 2 10-15 minutes
Level 3 20-45 minutes
Level 4 1-2 hours
Level 5 2 hours or more
Dear Competitors and Bermuda Race Fans,
Thank you to our competitors, fans, spectators, and sponsors for making the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race an incredible experience all around. From registration through the Gulf Stream to Prizegiving, this special anniversary edition of the race will not soon be forgotten. I want to extend extra thanks to the many BROC volunteers, the Race Committee, and the International Jury for their roles in making the race happen. I particularly want to commend the leadership and staff at RBYC for the spirited welcome to Bermuda.
While your 2026 race experience remains fresh, we would like to hear your thoughts on the race. Your feedback provides critical input to the Organizing Committee which endeavors to continuously improve the race for our competitors, our sponsor partners, and our sailing fans. We would like input from all race participants on all aspects of the race—from spectators at Fort Adams, to online followers, to crew members, PICs, and boat owners. Please take a few minutes out of your day to complete this anonymous survey via the link below.To add extra incentive, after filling out the survey, you will be directed to a separate form to enter your email to win a $100 gift certificate courtesy of Team One Newport.Take the survey: bermudarace.com/survey
Update on the Scoring Error Investigation
This is also an opportune time to provide an update on the investigation into the scoring situation that required re-issuing Forecast Time Correction Factors after the start of the race and correcting the scoring for the fleet.The BROC, its technical committee, and related service providers are committed to determining the root causes of the scoring anomaly and taking steps to prevent future issues. This work began when the problem was first discovered, continued through the final days of the race, and will continue until we are confident that all contributing factors are well understood. Our team shares in the frustration that the scoring issue has caused and greatly appreciates the patience the race community has extended while we work towards getting a full picture of what happened.At this time, the committee can share the following:
Verified Race Results: The results of the 2026 race (published per the International Jury’s direction on June 26) indeed scored the race with forecast time corrected factors (FTCFs) that are correct and reproducible. This has been confirmed by comparing the output of multiple independent runs conducted by different individuals using different installations of the routing software that was used to calculate the FTCFs for the fleet.
Pre-Race FTCF Calculations: The anomaly that resulted in incorrect FTCF values published on Friday morning (June 19) was the result of unexpected and undetected behavior within the instance of Expedition while executing the routines to generate optimal route elapsed times for each competitor. There is no evidence that there were defects in any vessel ORR files or the selected weather model files.
Ongoing Investigation and Transparency: The ongoing investigation intends to determine with confidence—to be proven through reliable re-production of the anomaly—all of the factors that caused the anomaly. We intend to transparently share what we learn. After that investigation is complete, we will determine what corrective actions, new process guidelines, and other recommendations are needed.
Commitment to Forecast-Based Scoring: BROC and its Technical Committee remain fully committed to forecast based scoring. Post race analysis objectively proves a significant improvement in fairness compared to Performance Curve Scoring (PCS). We intend to continue to leverage the full expertise of our members, domain experts, and partners, and use the best available technology (forecasts, VPPs, and route optimization software) and enhanced processing protocols, to reliably enable forecast scoring. Our committee members, competitors, and the broader racing community hold BROC to the highest expectations for fairness, accuracy, and transparency. We look forward to completing and reporting on our investigation and are confident that the clarity gained from this incident will help all race organizers prevent similar issues in the future.
Sincerely,
Andrew Kallfelz
Bermuda Race Organizing Committee Chair
Building the Race’s Next Century
During Race Week, the Bermuda Race Foundation celebrated several significant milestones as we continue building for the Race’s next century. At our inaugural Donor Appreciation Event at The Sailing Museum in Newport, we announced that our Endowment Campaign has reached $2 million, unveiled the Founders Society Recognition Plaque, introduced a new trophy acquisition that will become part of the Race’s enduring legacy, and recognized this year’s Roll of Honour recipients. We were also delighted to welcome donors and friends to the Starting Line Festival VIP Reception, celebrating the generous community whose support helps preserve the traditions, excellence, and future of the Newport Bermuda Race for generations to come.
The Ministry of Public Works & Environment would like to update the public on the upcoming phases of the Swing Bridge Road Realignment Project as construction continues in the St. George’s and St. David’s area.
Road realignment works commenced in late May with the construction of the temporary bus turnaround within Kindley Field Park. This work represents the first stage of a phased traffic management strategy designed to maintain access to St. David’s and St. George’s while construction of the new Swing Bridge progresses.
As work advances, the project will move through two major traffic milestones over the coming months, introducing new temporary road layouts that will remain in place during bridge construction.
Phase II – Waller’s Point Road Mini-Roundabout
Construction of a temporary mini-roundabout at Waller’s Point Road began this month. The roundabout is being constructed to facilitate the next stage of the road realignment and will eventually reroute public traffic between St. David’s Road and Southside Road.
The Ministry wishes to emphasise that although construction of the mini-roundabout will begin in July, the new traffic arrangement will not take effect until St. David’s Road is closed during a later stage of the project. Until then, the current traffic arrangements will remain in place.
Once implemented, all public traffic travelling to and from St. David’s will enter and exit via Kindley Field Park.
At that time, the section of St. David’s Road extending from the western end of the Marginal Wharf gate to the Gate #1 staging area will become a dedicated construction haul route for project vehicles transporting materials between Marginal Wharf and the bridge construction site.
Public access along this section of roadway will no longer be permitted, with the exception of access to the Stokes Point Bridge Marina.
These changes are designed to safely separate construction traffic from public traffic while maintaining access to St. David’s throughout the bridge construction programme.
Phase III – Gate #1 Mini-Roundabout
Construction will then progress into August and September with the development of a second temporary mini-roundabout at Gate #1.
This phase will include:
* Construction of the temporary mini-roundabout at the existing Swing Bridge approach.
* Temporary rerouting of traffic through the existing bus lane at Gate #1.
* Relocation of the temporary bus stop to the wall adjacent to Gate #1.
* Closure of the affected section of St. David’s Road to facilitate bridge construction activities.
* Integration of both temporary mini-roundabouts with the new bus turnaround within Kindley Field Park.
By the end of September, the Ministry expects both temporary mini-roundabouts and the bus turnaround to be fully operational, creating the temporary road network that will support traffic movement throughout the main Swing Bridge construction period.
A Ministry spokesperson said: “The road realignment project has been carefully phased to minimise disruption while maintaining safe and reliable access for the travelling public throughout construction. As we move into the next stages of the project, motorists will begin to see additional infrastructure taking shape ahead of future traffic changes.
“Importantly, many of these elements will be constructed before they become operational, allowing the Ministry to complete the work safely before introducing new traffic arrangements. We recognise that these changes will require residents, commuters and businesses to adjust familiar travel routes.
“Our commitment is to communicate each change well in advance, providing clear information, maps, videos and practical guidance before new traffic arrangements are introduced.”
The Ministry will continue to implement its phased public information campaign, ensuring that residents, businesses, commuters and public transport users receive advance notice before each stage of the project becomes operational.
Upcoming communications will include updated traffic maps, route diagrams, explanatory videos, public transport information, and traffic advisories to help motorists prepare for each transition. Until further notice, the current traffic arrangements remain in effect.
Members of the public are encouraged to follow the Ministry’s official communication channels and @swingbridgebda on Instagram for the latest project updates and traffic information.
Ask most Bermudians what Cup Match means and you’ll hear plenty about Somerset, St. George’s, cricket, camping, cassava pie, and who will be lifting the cup this year.
But for Bermudian entrepreneur and fashion designer Kennette J. Burgess, Cup Match tells a much deeper story—one of freedom, identity, resilience, and community.
Through her newest Distinct Apparel 2026 Cup Match Collection, Burgess hopes to encourage conversations that go beyond team colours and remind both residents and visitors why Bermuda celebrates this national holiday in the first place.
“Fashion has always been a way people tell their story,” Burgess said.
“Behind every Cup Match shirt is an opportunity to celebrate not only our favourite team, but also our history. Cup Match exists because of Emancipation. It reminds us of Mary Prince, of freedom, of the strength of our ancestors, and of how far Bermuda has come.”
Rather than creating clothing that simply celebrates cricket, Distinct Apparel’s newest collection intentionally weaves Bermudian heritage throughout its designs.
One of the featured collections incorporates African-inspired patterns alongside words including Emancipation, Freedom, Mary Prince, Bermuda, and Cup Match, encouraging people to proudly wear clothing that sparks conversations about Bermuda’s history.
“We wanted people to ask questions,” Burgess explained.
“Maybe a young person asks why Mary Prince’s name is on a shirt. Maybe a visitor asks why we celebrate Cup Match. Those conversations matter. This is why we also wanted to partner with comedian Nadanja and Tellevision in our first ever CupMatch educational sitcom series to educate the public in a funny way on the importance of CupMatch. ”
You can watch Part 1 here on Instagram with Parts 2 &3 dropping this weekend https://www.instagram.com/p/DbGQZxcDrgs/
While history remains at the heart of the collection, Burgess also wanted the designs to reflect what Cup Match has become today—a celebration of family, community, friendly rivalry, and Bermudian pride.
This year’s collection includes apparel celebrating Somerset supporters, St. George’s supporters, neutral “both teams” supporters, and even a playful “Cupmatch-ish” design for those who admit they’re mostly there for the food, family, and fun.
“Cup Match has room for everyone,” she laughed.
“Whether you’re Team Somerset, Team St. George’s, both teams, or just there because your auntie’s fish cakes are legendary, there’s something beautiful about the way Bermuda comes together.”
Beyond fashion, Burgess says community impact has become equally important.
Throughout this year’s Cup Match season, Distinct Apparel is partnering with several community organizations and cultural events, using fashion to bring people together while supporting local causes.
The collection recently took centre stage during the Somerset Pre-Cup Match Explosion at Willowbank Resort, where local designers, musicians, vendors, and entertainers celebrated Bermuda’s creativity ahead of the holiday around an estimated 3oo to 400 people.
Distinct Apparel is also supporting the Proud To Be Us Fashion Show this Saturday at Cedarbridge, benefiting Special Olympics Bermuda and helping athletes raise funds to represent Bermuda internationally.
For Burgess, those partnerships are just as important as selling clothing.
“Business should never just be about business,” she said.
“It’s about creating opportunities, celebrating people, supporting charities, investing back into the community, and preserving our culture for future generations.”
That philosophy has become part of the Distinct Apparel brand.
Whether through school partnerships, community fundraisers, cultural celebrations, retail collaborations, or charity fashion shows, Burgess believes fashion has the power to educate, inspire, and connect people.
As Bermuda prepares for another Cup Match season, she hopes residents and visitors alike will pause to remember why the holiday exists.
“We celebrate our teams because of our history,” she said.
“We celebrate our freedom because of those who came before us. If our clothing helps someone remember that—or learn it for the very first time—then we’ve accomplished something much bigger than selling a shirt.”
The Distinct Apparel 2026 Cup Match Collection is available online at www.mydistinctapparel.com and through select retail partners across Bermuda, including Brown & Co., Caesar’s Pharmacy, Surprise, Bargain Hunters, and Casual Footware.
About Distinct Apparel
Distinct Apparel is a Bermudian lifestyle and fashion brand founded by award-winning entrepreneur and designer Kennette J. Burgess, MBA. The brand creates apparel inspired by Bermudian culture, empowerment, faith, tourism, and community, with collections celebrating identity, inclusion, and confidence for all ages and sizes.
Bermuda College has received professional recognition for its accounting training, strengthening the local pathway for students and professionals pursuing careers in accounting, finance and business.
The College has been awarded Silver Learning Partner status by ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
The approval confirms that Bermuda College has met the requirements for Silver status and is working in partnership with ACCA towards Gold approval.
Students can now study, sit their exams and progress towards an ACCA qualification without leaving Bermuda.
The recognition marks an important step for the Athora Division of Professional and Career Education (APACE), which provides professional, career and continuing education programmes supporting workforce development, career progression and lifelong learning.
Tawana Flood, Director of the Division of APACE, said the recognition was good news for students, staff and Bermuda’s wider business community.
“This is a proud moment for Bermuda College and APACE,” Ms Flood said.
“Silver Learning Partner status gives our students greater confidence that the training they receive locally is connected to international standards.
“It also gives our staff access to ACCA resources, teaching support and performance insight that can help us continue improving the student experience.”
ACCA is a global professional accountancy body. Its Approved Learning Partner programme recognises tuition providers that meet its approval standards and work with ACCA to support student success.
Silver status places Bermuda College in ACCA’s tuition provider directory and makes it part of a structured international learning partner programme.
It also gives the College team access to educator resources and exam performance tools, helping staff track outcomes, review progress and strengthen course delivery.
The approval provides a clear pathway towards Gold Approved Learning Partner status and supports APACE’s role in helping residents develop skills for careers in accounting, finance and business.
Ms Flood said: “APACE is focused on helping people upskill, reskill and move forward with confidence.
“This recognition strengthens the pathway for learners pursuing ACCA qualifications and supports Bermuda’s need for skilled finance and business professionals.
“We are proud to be working with ACCA and excited about the opportunity to continue building towards Gold approval.”
Paula Marcelle-Irish, Head of ACCA Caribbean, said: “Securing Silver Approved Learning Partner status with ACCA is a major accomplishment for Bermuda College and a meaningful development for Bermuda.
“It affirms that the College delivers ACCA programmes to a recognised global standard, giving students a strong foundation for professional success and providing employers with confidence in the quality of talent emerging from these programmes.”
She added: “Furthermore, as Bermuda College is an on-demand computer-based exam centre, students can continue sitting their exams locally and progressing toward ACCA qualification without leaving Bermuda.
“This recognition strengthens the pathway for young people to build future-ready careers in accounting and finance and creates a powerful route for Bermudians to pursue professional opportunities that are competitive anywhere in the world.”
Silver status is valid until September 21, 2027.
Bermuda College will host an ACCA Information Session via Zoom on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 6pm Bermuda time. Click here to RSVP: ACCA Information Session: Via Zoom – Fill in form A new course starts in September. For more information, email apace@college.bm. Funding support is available to students, email financialsupportservices@college.bm
Turk, a lawyer who has worked for the United Nations for decades in major offices such as Geneva and field locations including Kosovo, finishes his first four-year term in October
International News via Reuters:
United Nations Human Rights chief Volker Turk, an outspoken critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza, faces opposition from both countries to a second four-year term ahead of a vote on Friday, diplomats told Reuters.
Turk, a lawyer who has worked for the United Nations for decades in major offices such as Geneva and field locations including Kosovo, finishes his first four-year term in October.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has worked closely with Turk in the past and steps down in December, has proposed another full term for the Austrian.
However, Russia has submitted a counter-proposal to extend his term by just over two months to the end of 2026, according to a copy seen by Reuters. Three diplomats said Israel also opposed a four-year extension and that Washington had raised doubts, turning what had been expected to be a consensus reappointment into a contentious vote.
Others have also privately said Guterres’ successor should have a say.
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF IS DEFENDER OF FREEDOMS
Asked to comment, Russia’s U.N. mission in New York agreed.
“Mr Turk’s reappointment for four years deprives the new secretary-general of the opportunity to make his/her own choice for such an important post for a long period,” it said. “It is an arbitrary idea given the sensitivity of the human rights architecture and its role in the United Nations in general.”
The mission said the view was shared by “many” U.N. states and added: “We’ll see tomorrow how many of them will be ready to openly state their position without fear of reprisals.”
Since the vote is in the U.N. General Assembly, the veto powers held by Russia and the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – China, the United States, Britain and France – do not apply.
No previous human rights chief has served two full four-year terms. Jordan’s Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, in post from 2014-18, said that remaining longer risked muting his advocacy and compromising his independence.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson called the move to reappoint Turk a “process foul” and said it “is another example of the UN’s inherent corruption and incompetence by rushing this vote and preventing adequate debate and oversight by member countries.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called Guterres’ re-proposal of Turk a “moral failure” on X and said the choice should be left to his successor.
Asked about Turk’s reappointment this week, a spokesperson for his office said: “I believe the High Commissioner is ready to serve.”
The post, created in 1993, plays a critical role in speaking out against erosion of freedoms at a time when autocracies are gaining influence at the expense of democracy.
AFRICAN BACKING FOR TURK
Some early critics of Turk’s appointment had assumed he would adopt a quieter approach. Instead, he has repeatedly criticised governments ranging from Russia and Israel to the United States.
He has accused Russia of severe violations of human rights and international humanitarian law since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allegations Moscow denies.
He has called for investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration custody and denounced hostilities between the United States and Iran. Washington has defended its standard of care in custody.
Turk has also condemned Israel’s “mass killing” in Gaza, although some including his own staff regret that he did not call the killings a genocide – an allegation Israel categorically denies.
The Russian mission rejected suggestions that Moscow was opposing a four-year extension because of Turk’s criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. It said its considerations included the wish to preserve the U.N.’s institutional integrity and respect procedures.
Diplomats said Guterres has been consulting governments for months about the proposal – a process meant to garner consensus and ward off last-minute surprises such as Russia’s motion.
Turk enjoys strong backing from European states and many Latin American ones, they said. A diplomatic memo from the African Union seen by Reuters showed “no objection” to the proposed four-year reappointment.
No other known candidates are known to be under consideration for the position.
“The Secretary-General is following the resolution and following the rules,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in New York on Thursday.
“… the Secretary-General has very much appreciated the work that Volker Turk has done in his term as High Commissioner for Human Rights.”
Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani, Lincoln Feast, Kevin Liffey and Nick Zieminski
More than 50% of licensed aerospace engineers are older than 50 in Britain; fewer than 10% are under 30, a March report by the Royal Aeronautical Society showed
International News via Reuters:
For Hassan Butt, a 17-year-old British student volunteering at the Farnborough airshow this week, there was nothing cooler than watching the planes and thinking about the physics that kept them airborne.
“Everyone when they’re kids, they look up, they see the planes flying and they think, damn…” he said as he fielded questions from passersby at a stand. His dream was to pursue a career in aerospace and engineering with a focus on missiles.
Looking across the hall, there was no shortage of stalls and displays and aerospace recruitment campaigns seeking to tap into that enthusiasm and lure him and other potential recruits from Generation Z and Alpha.
Butt was a perfect candidate, but industry bodies and companies said there were not enough like him out there. The UK aerospace and defence sector is facing a shortage of around 10,000 specialized engineers a year — with AI and other newer technologies sucking up talent.
More than 50% of licensed aerospace engineers are older than 50 in Britain; fewer than 10% are under 30, a March report by the Royal Aeronautical Society showed. The UK sector has grown 31% in the last decade, but the talent pipeline has not kept pace, trade group ADS said.
“We in the aerospace industry have been experiencing a shortage of skilled workers for some time … despite the industry growing year on year for the past 10 years,” Kevin Craven, chief executive of aerospace and defence trade group ADS, said.
He added that innovations in flying taxis and sustainability could help to coax younger engineers into signing up.
CONTESTS AND TOP GUN DISPLAYS LURE RECRUITS
The sector faces a record order backlog. Aerospace giants including Boeing and Airbus are working hard to crank out more planes, but are watching their expert engineers inching towards retirement.
Many companies in the sector scrapped feeder apprenticeship programmes that support longer-term careers in cost-saving measures a few years ago. Those have largely been replaced by entry-level jobs or graduate schemes, many of them pushed by the stalls and campaigns at this week’s event.
Elsewhere at the show, there were engine-building exercises and Top Gun-like flying displays, all designed to draw young recruits in.
The competition to attract them is fierce. Other sectors requiring similar engineering skills have a lower barrier to entry and often pay higher salaries, especially in technology, experts say.
“If you’re an engineer coming out of Purdue or MIT or any other of the premier aerospace engineering programmes, you might say maybe I’ll go to Anthropic or OpenAI as opposed to Boeing or Airbus,” said Jerrold Lundquist, consultant and managing director of advisory firm The Lundquist Group.
The UK government is hoping renewed investment in defence, tied to the war in Ukraine, can help boost the appeal of joining the sector, as it develops unmanned drones such as BAE Systems’ Brontanax.
ADS said the aerospace, defence and security sectors added 46.8 billion pounds ($62.4 billion) to the UK economy last year.
Another 17-year-old at the event, Molly Haydon, was just as keen as Hassan Butt to join in. But she said more needed to be done outside of the airshow to attract students, in particular young women like her.
“I think they need to educate more young people on it and to get them more knowledge that there are still jobs available in the sector for everyone,” she said.
($1 = 0.7506 pounds)
Reporting by Joanna Plucinska, Shivansh Tiwary, Tim Hepher and Cassell Bryan-Low; Editing by Andrew Heavens
Both Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude have rallied this week as the U.S. and Iran exchanged missile strikes, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to a trickle and Yemen’s Houthis attacked shipping in the Red Sea
International News via Reuters:
Crude oil futures prices were more than 4% lower on Friday as traders booked profits and after sources said that China had initiated a push to resume stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran, but remained on track for hefty weekly gains.
Both Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude have rallied this week as the U.S. and Iran exchanged missile strikes, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to a trickle and Yemen’s Houthis attacked shipping in the Red Sea.
Brent futures pared earlier losses of more than 5% to stand $4.41, or 4.38%, lower at $96.28 a barrel at 11:01 a.m. CDT (1601 GMT), having settled above $100 in the previous session for the first time since May. The contract remained on course for more than a 7% gain this week.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down $3.61, or 3.92%, at $88.58 a barrel, on track for a 7% weekly rise.
Energy markets were in a precarious state on Friday, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group.
“Overall stocks remain pretty tight – and that situation could turn on a dime, so it’s worth keeping a close watch as things develop,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump promised “major military punishment” for Iran and its Houthi allies after the strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Iran had been pressing the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea if the U.S. continued to attack Iranian power infrastructure. It is the second most important route for energy shipments after the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.
Additionally, the Houthis declared on Monday that they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, which had been diverting its oil via pipeline to get around Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Daily vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz were steady at three for each of the past three days, preliminary ship-tracking data from Kpler showed. Another two ships — including empty very large crude carrier Noble — entered the Gulf via the strait on Thursday.
Meanwhile, at Bab el-Mandeb, commodity vessel transits totalled 32 on July 23, up from 26 the day before, Kpler data showed, with two crossings for July 24 so far.
“In the right seas, ships are still moving… so it’s not a complete blockade as some might have feared,” said Giovanni Staunovo, a UBS analyst.
Analysts at JPMorgan said in a note that each additional month of disruption to oil supply would add around $7 to $8 a barrel to Brent, lifting monthly average prices to around $114 a barrel if disruptions extend to three months.
Elsewhere, Russia said on Friday that its forces had struck three Ukrainian ports overnight targeting infrastructure — including loading and unloading facilities and fuel reserves — which supported Kyiv’s armed forces.
On Thursday, Kazakhstan’s energy ministry said oil companies temporarily reduced production after suspected Ukrainian drone attacks forced the country’s main Black Sea export terminal to close.
Reporting by Erwin Seba, Seher Dareen. Colleen Howe, Siyi Liu; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Kirsten Donovan
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