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Second Korean oil tanker passes through Red Sea amid ongoing blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Published: 03 May. 2026, 13:28

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit board M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. [CENTCOM]

Another Korean oil tanker that had been stranded in the Middle East following the war between the United States and Iran has passed through the Red Sea. It is the second such case since mid-April.

The Strait of Hormuz, the main route for transporting Middle Eastern crude oil, remains blocked due to the war, drawing attention to the Red Sea as an alternative route.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday that as of 10 a.m., a second Korean vessel had safely passed through the Red Sea and is transporting crude oil to Korea.

The ministry had earlier announced that a Korean tanker loaded with crude oil at Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia had safely exited the Red Sea on April 17, marking the first such case. The latest passage is the second instance.

“The government supported the safety of the vessel and its crew by conducting 24-hour real-time monitoring, providing navigation safety information and operating a real-time communication channel among the ministry, the shipping company and the vessel while it was sailing through the Red Sea,” the ministry said. Detailed information, such as the shipping company, vessel name and charterer, was not disclosed due to potential security risks.

“We will continue to do our best to stabilize the domestic crude oil supply,” a ministry official said.

Twenty-six vessels linked to Korea remain stranded as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the Iran war.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]