Cape Tanker Route

The route around Africa that supertankers and crisis-era ships take when Suez does not fit or is not safe.

Overview

Very large crude carriers hauling around 2 million barrels mostly sail the Cape because the Suez Canal handles loaded tankers roughly half that size. The detour adds about two weeks and heavy bunker costs, a trade-off that reshapes charter markets whenever canal tolls or risk premiums move. History rhymes: the 1967 to 1975 Suez closure pushed tanker companies to build the supertanker fleet for the long route, and the 2024 Red Sea attacks sent container and LNG traffic the same way, spiking rates and emissions.