South Korean oil tanker authorised by Iran to pass through the Hormuz Strait

A South Korean oil tanker operated by a Korean shipping firm is crossing the Hormuz Strait after obtaining permission from Iranian authorities, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun of South Korea said on Wednesday. If the tanker successfully passes the strategic strait, it would be the first Korean-owned vessel to do so since the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Iran. ‘Currently, a South Korean oil tanker is journeying out of the Hormuz Strait in coordination with Iran,’ Cho told a parliamentary committee in Seoul. He explained that the crossing permission was obtained after consultations with Iranian authorities, allowing the ship to commence sailing on Tuesday (19 May). ‘The tanker is crossing the Strait very carefully,’ Cho added, noting that the tanker carries 2 million barrels of crude oil. The vessel has more than 20 crew members, fewer than 10 of whom are South Korean. The tanker is cruising a route designated by Iran, and Iran will not levy transit fees. Government officials declined to disclose the operator’s name for security reasons; Bloomberg previously reported the tanker is a crude-oil tanker operated by South Korean shipping company HMM Co. bound for Ulsan Port. If the voyage proceeds safely, the number of South Korean-operated ships still held near the Hormuz Strait would decline to 25, including the HMM Namu, currently undergoing repairs in the UAE. The South Korean government is conducting analyses to identify those responsible for the incident. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Iran’s consent to the voyage is not related to the attack on HMM Namu, but the result of extended consultations on the safety of Korean ships in the Hormuz Strait. Iran has restricted navigation through the Strait amid the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel since late February. On Sunday (17 May), Foreign Minister Cho also spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and both sides agreed to continue consultations on the safety of Korean vessels and crews in the Hormuz Strait. Source: Yonhap Translator: Yoanita Hastryka Djohan