Ships Accelerate 'Escape' from Hormuz; Half of South Korean Vessels Pass Through

Following the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, the pace of ships escaping the Strait of Hormuz is accelerating.

According to sources, since the war between the U.S. and Iran began on February 28, 26 South Korean vessels had been stranded inside the strait. With 13 ships having successfully exited so far, exactly half have now safely passed through.

It was estimated that there were between 1,000 and 1,500 ships from various countries in the Strait of Hormuz, with about 500 of them seeking passage.

Currently, it is observed that an average of about 30 ships are exiting the strait per day, and 11 of the 13 South Korean vessels that have cleared the strait moved within the approximately three days since June 22.

Analysts suggest that the high passage rate for South Korean ships is partly because the Iranian side has, to some extent, accepted South Korea's diplomatic protests regarding the Namu-ho incident.

From the beginning of the crisis, South Korea has consistently maintained a position of "non-acceptance" regarding the passage fees for the Strait of Hormuz demanded by the Iranian government.

While there were concerns that passage might be difficult as a result, some interpret the Iranian side's actions following the Namu-ho incident as a gesture of goodwill in its own way.

The government believes that maintaining diplomatic channels and keeping the lines of communication open with Iran throughout this period played a significant role.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official mentioned four phone calls between the two countries' foreign ministers since the start of the war and the dispatch of a special diplomatic envoy to Iran, stating, "We have been communicating through diplomatic channels at all levels." The official added, "Following the signing of the MOU between the U.S. and Iran, we have focused our diplomatic efforts specifically on the prompt and safe passage of our vessels."

According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other sources, it is estimated that about 30 ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz on average per day.

The timing for the remaining ships to exit is not expected to be uniform, as each shipping company may make different choices depending on factors such as their insurance status.

According to recent foreign media reports, in the case of Japan, 37 out of 45 ships still remain within the strait.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.