South Korea is sending oil through an alternative route after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked by Iran for more than a month.
Yonhap quoted Friday, May 8, reported that a South Korean oil tanker managed to cross the Red Sea on Friday. The ship is now on its way home to South Korea. This is the fourth oil shipment through the route.
The South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said the ship had previously loaded oil at Yanbu Port, Saudi Arabia. The ship passed through the Red Sea at around 11.00 local time.
The details of the ship's movement were not announced for safety reasons.
The ship is the fourth South Korean oil carrier to pass through the Red Sea route since Seoul used the route to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
The Red Sea route connects the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. This route was chosen because the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked by Iran for more than a month.
The first South Korean ship to use the alternative route since the war began arrived at the Port of Yeosu, southwest South Korea, on Thursday. The ship was carrying about 2 million barrels of oil, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The ship had left the Red Sea last month. Two other South Korean oil tankers also managed to cross the Red Sea earlier this week.
The South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated that it would continue to work to stabilize oil shipments to its country. The government will also take steps to ensure the safety of South Korean ships and crews sailing in the region.
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