When Will 24 South Korean Ships Trapped in Strait of Hormuz for Three and a Half Months Return?

As the United States and Iran have agreed to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, a path has cleared for some 20 South Korean vessels stranded in the strait to safely exit.

However, with several uncertainties remaining, it is expected to take some time for all of them to leave the strait.

According to the government on June 15, there are currently 24 South Korean vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

These include ships flying the South Korean flag and those scheduled to be acquired after their charter periods expire even if they do not currently hold South Korean nationality, all of which are under government management.

This includes the HMM cargo ship Namu, which was towed to the Port of Dubai for repairs after being attacked on May 4.

Initially, 26 South Korean vessels were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, but the number decreased to 24 after HMM's oil tanker Universal Winner left last month, followed recently by a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

There are a total of 137 South Korean crew members in the Strait of Hormuz.

This figure combines those aboard South Korean vessels (103 people) and those on foreign vessels (34 people).

They have been stranded in the strait for three and a half months since late February of this year, when Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz.

While the South Korean vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz are maintaining stable supplies of food, drinking water, and fuel, the fatigue level of the crew members who have endured the long stay is reportedly high.

Once the Strait of Hormuz is opened under the agreement between the U.S. and Iran, about 2,000 vessels, including the 24 stranded South Korean ships, are expected to safely exit.

Their voyage out of the strait is expected to begin in earnest after June 19, when the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Several uncertainties still remain.

Most of 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 them to exit the Strait of Hormuz, the anchoring period in the strait could unexpectedly be prolonged.

The South Korean government is also reportedly working to confirm the specific details of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Sea mines laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz could also pose an obstacle.

Additional cooperation from Iran may be required in the process of navigating safe routes to avoid the mines.

While the alternative route proposed by Iran last month is being considered as the path for the vessels, concerns are also being raised that bottlenecks and other issues could cause confusion or delays as around 2,000 ships attempt to exit the narrow strait at the same time.

Instability within Iran is also causing concern.

Although the Iranian government has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz, the possibility that militias or other armed groups could independently pose threats cannot be ruled out.

Previously, when the Iranian government announced the lifting of the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz last April, the military reversed the decision just a day later.

At the time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also joined in by declaring the closure of the strait.

The South Korean government has maintained a close communication system with the vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

Once the strait is opened and they exit, the government will guide them so they can safely navigate to their respective destinations.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.