South Korean Oil Tanker Gets Iranian Permission to Cross Strait of Hormuz

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - South Korean Foreign Minister ChoHyun said that the ship operated by a South Korean company was crossing the Strait of Hormuz after obtaining permission from Iranian authorities.

If the tanker manages to pass through the strategic strait, it will be the first time for a Korean ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran.

"Currently, South Korean oil tankers are traveling out of the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranians," Minister Cho said at a parliamentary committee meeting in Seoul, Wednesday, May 20, as reported by ANTARA from Yonhap.

He explained that the transit permit was obtained after consulting with Iranian authorities, so that the ship could begin sailing on Tuesday (19/5).

"The ship crossed the strait very carefully," Cho said, adding that the tanker was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil.

According to ministry officials, the ship trapped near the strategic route since late February began moving in waters near Qatar on Tuesday (19/5) after finding it was passing from Iran. The ship is expected to enter the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday night.

The ship was carrying more than 20 crew members, including less than 10 of whom were South Koreans. The Korean oil tanker sailed through Iran's designated route and was not subject to transit tariffs by Iran.

Government officials declined to disclose the name of the ship's operator on security grounds. However, Bloomberg previously reported that the ship was a crude oil tanker operated by South Korean shipping company HMM Co. with the destination of Ulsan Port.

If the ship's journey goes safely, the number of ships operated by South Korea and still held near the Strait of Hormuz will be reduced to 25 ships, including HMM Namu, which is currently undergoing repairs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ship was sailing about two weeks after a Panama-flagged cargo ship, HMM Namu, was hit by two unidentified flying objects, causing an explosion and fire and leaving one crew member lightly injured.

The South Korean government is currently conducting an analysis to identify the party responsible for the incident.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry (Kemlu) said Iran's approval of the ship's voyage was not related to the attack on the HMM Namu ship, but rather the result of long consultations on the security of South Korean ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran is known to restrict navigation in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel since late February.

Sunday (17/5), Foreign Minister Cho also had a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchidan. Both sides agreed to continue consultations regarding the safety of South Korean ships and crew in the Strait of Hormuz.