Another South Korean vessel passes through Strait of Hormuz
Quick Look
- A South Korean LNG carrier with eight Korean crew members successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, marking the second such passage.
- This reduces the number of stranded Korean vessels to 24 and sailors to 139.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments, and has been a site of heightened tensions. South Korean vessels have been navigating this area amidst these concerns.
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Another vessel operated by a South Korean shipper has successfully passed through the crisis-stricken Strait of Hormuz, marking the second case of its kind, Seoul's oceans ministry said Thursday.
The vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier operated by a Korean shipping company under a charter agreement with a foreign party, with eight Korean crew members on board, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Details of the ship, the company and the foreign charterer were undisclosed.
The ministry said the decision was made through consultations between the Korean shipper and the foreign charterer.
The vessel is headed to a different destination than South Korea, it added.
With the latest case, the number of South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz went down to 24 from 25, with the number of Korean sailors down to 139 from 147.
Last month, Universal Winner, a South Korean oil tanker operated by Korean shipping company HMM, successfully exited the strait, marking the first case of its kind.
The ship arrived in the southeastern port city of Ulsan on Wednesday, carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil.
The foreign ministry said it has emphasized to Iranian authorities the importance of the swift and safe navigation of all vessels, including South Korean ones, within the Strait of Hormuz.
"We are continuing to communicate with relevant countries regarding this matter."
Open Questions
- What specific consultations occurred between the Korean shipper and the foreign charterer?
- What was the nature of the communication with Iranian authorities?
- What are the specific security measures in place for these passages?
- What is the foreign charterer's nationality and destination country?
