Case Study: Delivering 30,000 MT of Wheat to Hodeidah

Navigating UNVIM Clearance and Naval Escorts in a High-Conflict Zone.

Date: January 2026

Route: Constanta, Romania → Hodeidah, Yemen

Cargo: 30,000 MT Bulk Wheat (Humanitarian Aid)

Challenge: Navigating a sudden escalation in Red Sea hostilities and mandatory UNVIM inspections.

1. The Challenge: A Logistics Deadlock

Our client, a major international NGO, needed to deliver life-saving grain into Hodeidah. However, the vessel owner was hesitant to enter the Southern Red Sea High-Risk Area (HRA) due to:

  • Insurance Spikes: War risk premiums had surged by 400% in 48 hours.

  • Regulatory Fear: Concerns that the local terminal agent in Yemen had ties to sanctioned individuals.

  • Inspection Delays: The UNVIM (United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism) queue in Djibouti was backed up for 14 days.

2. Our Solution: The VSCP Integrated Approach

SanctionedShipping.com took over the compliance and liaison management of the voyage:

  • Step 1: Regulatory Liaison: We secured a "Humanitarian Comfort Letter" from OFAC and the EU Commission, verifying the voyage fell under the 2026 Ag-Med General Licenses.

  • Step 2: Security Coordination: We registered the vessel with EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and secured a dedicated naval escort for the transit through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

  • Step 3: AIS Forensic Defense: We provided a 24/7 "Clean AIS" log to military monitors, preemptively explaining any signal jitter caused by regional electronic interference.

  • Step 4: Local Vetting: We performed a deep-dive UBO audit on the Hodeidah terminal agent, proving they were not on the SDN list, which satisfied the owner’s bank.

3. The Result: Mission Accomplished

By proactively managing the "Paper Trail" and the "Protection Detail," we achieved:

  • Zero Delays: The vessel cleared the UNVIM inspection in Djibouti in just 18 hours due to our pre-filed technical manifest.

  • Safe Discharge: The grain was successfully discharged in Hodeidah under the supervision of our local observers.

  • Insurance Savings: By demonstrating our naval escort and AIS monitoring plan, we helped the client negotiate a 15% reduction in their War Risk Additional Premium (AP).

"In a zone where most brokers saw a wall, SanctionedShipping.com saw a path. Their liaison with UNVIM was the difference between a stalled voyage and a successful delivery."

— Logistics Director, Global Aid Agency

Key Performance Metrics

  • Regulatory Clearance: 100% compliant with UN & OFAC 2026 protocols.

  • Security: Zero security incidents during the HRA transit.

  • Time Saved: 13 days vs. average market wait times.

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