Half of stranded South Korean vessels exit Strait of Hormuz

Half of the South Korean vessels that had been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict have now safely exited the strategic waterway, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has stated.

It said 13 of the 26 South Korean vessels trapped in the strait since the start of hostilities between the United States and Iran in late February had completed their transit as of Thursday morning, Caliber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

Ship movements have increased since Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding last week aimed at ending the conflict and restoring navigation through the strait. Eleven of the 13 South Korean vessels passed through the waterway during the past three days.

Another 13 South Korean vessels remain in the area. Officials said there are currently 54 crew members aboard South Korean-flagged ships and 33 South Korean nationals serving on foreign-flagged vessels operating in the strait.

"The continued safe passage of vessels has raised expectations that the long-standing transit issue may soon be resolved, barring any deterioration in the security situation or other external factors," a ministry official told reporters.

The official noted that South Korean ships have been transiting the strait at a faster rate than some vessels from other countries, partly due to Seoul’s ongoing diplomatic contacts with Tehran throughout the conflict.

"Since the outbreak of the war, South Korea and Iran have maintained communication through various diplomatic channels, including four phone talks between their foreign ministers and the dispatch of a special envoy to Iran," the official said.

Data from the International Maritime Organization and other maritime bodies indicate that approximately 30 vessels currently pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day.

At the peak of the conflict, between 1,000 and 1,500 ships were estimated to be operating in or around the area, with around 500 vessels awaiting passage.

Officials added that the departure schedule of the remaining South Korean ships will depend on factors such as insurance arrangements and operational decisions made by individual shipping companies.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov