RIYADH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Aramco announced on Saturday that crude oil shipments are being temporarily redirected to Yanbu Port to enhance safety and the continuity of supplies, according to local Al Ekhbariya TV.

Storage tanks are seen at the North Jeddah bulk plant, an Aramco oil facility, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 21, 2021. (Photo: AP)

The measure comes amid rising regional tensions and concerns over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime passages for oil transportation.

Saudi Aramco is one of the world's largest oil companies by production and plays a key role in global energy supplies.