Second Korean vessel successfully passes through Strait of Hormuz

A South Korean vessel has safely exited the Strait of Hormuz and is continuing its voyage, the country’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The ship becomes the second tanker to transit through the strait following the outbreak of the US and Israel’s war with Iran, after the HMM Universal Winner sailed through the waterway last month. “Discussions regarding the vessel’s transit were led by the foreign charterer, and we understand that the tanker is heading to its final destination in a third country,” said the ministry. Charterers are companies that rent vessels from shipowners. This particular vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier operated by a South Korean shipping company and is said to have eight South Korean crew members aboard. The last time a South Korean tanker passed the Strait of Hormuz was on May 20, when the HMM Universal Winner managed to exit the strait. The oil tanker, which was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, arrived at a port in Ulsan on Wednesday. The HMM Universal Winner was able to pass through the strait after consultations between the governments of South Korea and Iran. The latest movement brings the number of South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz down to 24. There are still 139 Korean crew members in the strait, including those on foreign-flagged ships. “We have conveyed to Iran the importance of ensuring the swift and safe passage of all vessels currently stranded in the strait, including those of South Korea. We remain in continuous communication with relevant countries to facilitate this process,” the Foreign Ministry stated.