Korean Crude Tanker Uses Red Sea Detour Amid Risks
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on April 17 that a Korean vessel loaded with crude oil from Yanbu Port, Saudi Arabia, has safely exited the Red Sea, marking the first instance of crude oil being transported to the country through the Red Sea as a detour route since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Red Sea is an area of operation for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a group backed by Iran, and the Ministry has been advising vessels to refrain from navigating the region, where approximately 79 attacks on vessels have occurred since the Israel-Hamas armed conflict in October 2023.
During the ‘Report on the Results of Measures Regarding Port Entry via the Hormuz Detour Route’ at the 14th Cabinet Meeting, which also served as the 4th Emergency Economic Review Meeting on the 6th, a plan was discussed to secure the crude oil supply by closely monitoring the safety of our vessels navigating the Red Sea detour route.
In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, in cooperation with related agencies such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the industry, has been promoting a plan to utilize the Red Sea as a detour route for the Strait of Hormuz, and reported that this is a case where the government’s response has led to tangible results amid growing uncertainty in the crude oil supply.
Notably, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries supported the safety of the crew and the vessel during its voyage through the Red Sea by providing 24-hour real-time monitoring, offering navigational safety information, and operating a real-time communication channel among the Ministry, the vessel, and the shipping company.
Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo stated, “We will continue to do our best to ensure there are no disruptions in crude oil transportation by our vessels, through cooperation with related agencies and the industry, while prioritizing the safety of our vessels and their crews.”
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