1 vessel bound for S. Korea; rest heading elsewhere

18 ships remain; 108 Korean crew still inside strait

An oil tanker anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, close to Iran's Kharg Island oil export terminal. [Getty Images]
An oil tanker anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, close to Iran's Kharg Island oil export terminal. [Getty Images]

The South Korean government said Wednesday that four more South Korean-flagged vessels had cleared the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing working-level negotiations between the United States and Iran over an end to the conflict.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said four ships operated by South Korean shipping companies, which had been waiting inside the strait, had passed through and were sailing normally.

The ministry said 26 South Korean crew members were aboard the four vessels. One ship is bound for South Korea, while the others are heading to other countries.

The passage reduces the number of South Korean ships still waiting inside the strait to 18. The ministry said 75 Korean crew members are aboard South Korean vessels inside the strait, with another 33 on foreign-flagged ships, bringing the total to 108 Korean nationals still inside the waterway.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said they had supported the safe passage of the four ships through diplomatic efforts and by providing real-time monitoring and transit information. The ministries pledged to continue supporting the remaining 18 vessels by sharing transit-related updates and information to help shipping companies plan their departure schedules and ensure safe passage.

The ministry also signaled that additional ships could move soon, saying vessels other than one currently undergoing repairs were actively preparing to transit the strait in accordance with consultations with relevant countries and their own operational plans.


moone@heraldcorp.com