▲ HMM's Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) 'Universal Winner' approaches a buoy, an offshore crude oil unloading facility, off the coast of Ulsan on the 10th to unload its cargo.
With the United States and Iran signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a path has been cleared for some 20 South Korean vessels stranded in the strait to depart safely.
However, as several uncertainties remain, it is expected to take some time for all of them to exit the strait.
According to the government on today (June 15), there are currently 24 South Korean vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.
These include ships under the South Korean flag and those currently without a Korean flag that are scheduled to be acquired once their charter periods expire, all of which are under government management.
This count includes the HMM cargo ship Namu, which was towed to the port of Dubai for repairs after being hit on May 4.
Initially, 26 South Korean vessels were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, but the number has decreased to 24 following the departure of the HMM tanker Universal Winner last month and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier recently.
There are a total of 137 South Korean crew members within the Strait of Hormuz.
This figure combines those aboard South Korean vessels (103) and those on foreign vessels (34).
They have been stranded in the strait for three and a half months since late February of this year, when Iran began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
While the South Korean vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz have maintained stable supplies of food, water, and fuel, it is reported that the crew members are experiencing high levels of fatigue after enduring the long period of confinement.
If the Strait of Hormuz is reopened following the agreement between the U.S. and Iran, it is expected that approximately 2,000 vessels, including the 24 South Korean ships, will be able to exit safely, but uncertainties persist in the immediate term.
Above all, it remains unclear what specific measures the U.S. and Iran have agreed upon to ensure their safe passage.
If the two countries clash over the specific plans to allow these vessels to exit the Strait of Hormuz, the duration of their anchorage in the strait could unexpectedly lengthen.
The mines installed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz could also be an obstacle.
Additional cooperation from Iran may be required to navigate through safe routes that avoid the mines.
Concerns have also been raised that a bottleneck could occur as approximately 2,000 vessels attempt to exit the narrow strait at once, potentially leading to confusion or delays.
Instability within Iran also raises concerns.
Although the Iranian government has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it is difficult to rule out the possibility that armed groups, such as militias, might independently engage in threatening behavior.
Previously, when the Iranian government announced the lifting of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in April, the military overturned the decision just one day later.
At that time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran also joined in by declaring the closure of the strait.
The government has maintained a close communication system with the vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Once the strait is reopened and they are able to exit, the government will provide guidance to ensure they can safely sail to their respective destinations.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.