Five additional South Korean-operated vessels exited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday [1].
This movement follows a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran to halt hostilities, which reopened the critical waterway to commercial traffic. The resolution of these tensions is essential for the stability of global energy supplies, and the safety of maritime crews.
Including the latest group, 11 vessels have now exited the strait [2]. The group that departed this Thursday included a Korean crude oil tanker [3]. A total of 21 Korean nationals were on the five vessels that exited [7].
Despite the progress, 13 vessels remain inside the strait [3]. These ships carry 87 crew members [3]. Among those remaining are 33 Korean crew members serving on foreign-flagged ships [5, 7].
Separate from the Hormuz movements, a Korean crude oil tanker was also reported transiting the Red Sea on Thursday [3].
The current window for safe passage was facilitated by the U.S.-Iran agreement reached earlier this month [9]. As part of the deal, transit fees for the strait have been suspended for 60 days [8].
Officials have not provided a specific timeline for when the remaining 13 vessels will complete their transit. The suspension of fees and the cessation of hostilities are intended to expedite the movement of ships that were previously stalled by the conflict [8].
“11 vessels have now exited the strait”
The gradual exit of South Korean vessels signals a tentative stabilization of one of the world's most volatile maritime chokepoints. While the suspension of transit fees and the US-Iran MOU provide a temporary window for safe passage, the fact that nearly half of the affected vessels remain in the strait suggests that logistical or diplomatic hurdles persist despite the ceasefire.
