South Korean Oil Tanker Completes Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

A vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company has successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The tanker is continuing its voyage outside the waters of the strait with about 10 crew members aboard, the ministry said in a notice to the press.

The vessel began sailing in waters near Qatar on Tuesday after receiving passage approval from Iran a day earlier and is expected to enter the Gulf of Oman late Wednesday.

The ministry said it had asked Iran to ensure the safe passage of the ship through multiple diplomatic channels and worked closely with related countries. Top diplomats of South Korea and Iran have held four rounds of phone calls, while Seoul's foreign ministry had sent a special delegation to Iran for around two weeks.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said during a parliamentary session that consultations with Iranian authorities were completed and the vessel began sailing yesterday. He added that the tanker was passing through the strait very cautiously. More than 20 crew members, including fewer than 10 South Koreans, are aboard the vessel, which is sailing along a route designated by Iran.

No transit fee has been paid to the Iranian side.

The passage came about two weeks after a Panama-flagged cargo ship, the HMM Namu, was struck by two unidentified flying objects, causing an explosion and a fire, and leaving one of the vessel's 24 crew members with minor injuries. As the passage is completed safely, the number of South Korea-operated vessels stranded near the strait will fall to 25, including the HMM Namu, which is currently undergoing repairs in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran has effectively restricted passage through the waterway amid the conflict. The ministry said Iran's approval was unrelated to the attack on the HMM Namu, as discussions with Iran regarding the safe passage of South Korean vessels had been ongoing.