Another South Korean oil tanker is transporting crude oil to South Korea via the Suez Canal north of the Red Sea following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced today (the 19th) that a South Korean vessel loaded with crude oil from the port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia has passed through the Suez Canal and is currently en route to South Korea.

This marks the 17th oil tanker to transport crude oil to South Korea via the Red Sea bypass since the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded in February due to the Middle East conflict.

While up to the 15th tanker passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the southern Red Sea, the 16th tanker passed through the Suez Canal in the northern Red Sea on the 17th.

Just two days later, another oil tanker has passed through the Suez Canal.

Tensions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remain heightened due to military clashes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi rebels.

Consequently, refineries in Asia have been exploring alternative routes by sailing north from the port of Yanbu to pass through the relatively safer Suez Canal.

In this case, vessels must detour around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, which increases the operating distance and inevitably incurs additional cost burdens.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries explained that the decision for this latest Red Sea-transiting oil tanker to route through the Suez Canal was made by the shipping company and the cargo owner.

The ministry emphasized, "During the vessel's navigation through the Red Sea, we supported the safety of our ships and crew through 24-hour real-time monitoring, the provision of navigational safety information, and the operation of a real-time communication channel among the ministry, the shipping company, and the vessel. We will continue to do our utmost to stabilize domestic crude oil supply and demand moving forward."

(Photo: Yonhap News)