South Korean oil tankers bypass the Strait of Hormuz and transport oil via the Red Sea again

According to the message released by the South Korean government, another South Korean-flagged oil tanker has loaded cargo at Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia and returned to its home country via the Red Sea route. This is the second time since the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz that a South Korean oil tanker has used this alternative route to transport crude oil back home. The South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated on the 3rd that the tanker had safely departed from the Red Sea on that day. During this process, the Ministry provided 24-hour real-time monitoring and navigation safety information, and maintained real-time communication with the vessel and its operators to ensure the safety of the ship and crew. Previously, on April 17th, the Ministry announced that the first South Korean oil tanker had safely departed from the Red Sea after loading crude oil at Yanbu Port. Since the outbreak of a new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen have intermittently attacked Western ships passing through the Red Sea. The South Korean government had advised its ships to avoid the Red Sea waters. After the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February, the passage through the Strait of Hormuz remained obstructed. In April, the South Korean government approved a plan to reroute oil shipments through the Red Sea. South Korea’s energy supply is highly dependent on imports, with about 70% of crude oil coming from the Middle East, over 95% of which is transported via the Strait of Hormuz. In April, South Korea dispatched special envoys to the Middle East and Central Asia to seek alternative crude oil supply routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. (Xinhua)