An oil tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude sits docked at the GS Caltex crude terminal in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on the morning of May 8. The vessel, which departed Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port in mid-April, was the first to transit the Red Sea as an alternative route after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked amid the war in the Middle East. [Yonhap]
An oil tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude sits docked at the GS Caltex crude terminal in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on the morning of May 8. The vessel, which departed Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port in mid-April, was the first to transit the Red Sea as an alternative route after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked amid the war in the Middle East. [Yonhap]

Another South Korean-flagged vessel has safely completed its voyage carrying crude oil to South Korea via the Red Sea. The alternative supply route the government established after the Strait of Hormuz closed continues to operate without disruption.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Tuesday that a South Korean-flagged ship that loaded crude at Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port has safely transited the Red Sea and is now en route to South Korea, bringing the total number of South Korean vessels to have transported crude through the Red Sea to 12.

Since the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, the ministry has been publicly reporting on the voyage status of South Korean-flagged vessels sailing from Yanbu port through the Red Sea to South Korea, beginning April 17.

While the vessel was transiting the Red Sea, the government conducted round-the-clock monitoring and provided navigational safety information. The ministry also maintained a real-time communications system among the ministry, the shipping company and the vessel to support the safety of the ship and its crew.

The ministry said it plans to continue vessel safety support and monitoring to ensure a stable crude oil supply to South Korea.


adastra@heraldcorp.com