2 Korean-operated ships pass through Strait of Hormuz; 22 remain stranded

Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has partially resumed following the signing of a ceasefire memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. Two vessels operated by South Korean shipping companies cleared the strait in the first confirmed passage, but 22 Korean-operated ships and 135 crew members remain inside the waterway, keeping tensions elevated.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Monday that the two vessels, which had been waiting inside the strait, recently passed through and are now sailing normally.

Neither ship had Korean crew members aboard, and their destinations are not South Korea, according to the ministry. The ministry withheld the names of the shipping companies and vessels, noting that the ships have not yet fully cleared the danger zone.

The passages mark the first confirmed transit by Korean-operated vessels since Iran's Persian Gulf Shipping Authority (PGSA) began accepting transit applications on June 19.

The number of Korean-operated ships waiting inside the strait has fallen from 24 to 22. The remaining vessels include six crude oil tankers, six petroleum product tankers, two chemical tankers, and eight other cargo ships — among them container vessels, car carriers and general cargo ships.

South Korean shipping companies are individually filing transit applications through the PGSA. A ministry official said the companies are communicating directly with Iranian authorities to submit their applications and sharing updates with the ministry. Any specific guidance on transit routes and timing will be passed on to the companies immediately upon receipt, the official added.

Crew safety remains a key concern. As of Monday, 135 Korean nationals are aboard ships inside the strait — 102 on Korean-flagged vessels and 33 on foreign-flagged ships. A recent crew rotation reduced the number on Korean-flagged vessels by one, but more than 100 Korean seafarers remain inside the waterway.

The ministry said it has confirmed no problems with crew safety or onboard supplies. An official said crew rotations are proceeding normally and that all vessels have secured at least four weeks' worth of food and other essential supplies, adding that emergency communication systems are also operating normally.

The government is also working diplomatic channels to secure early passage for the stranded ships. The ministry has asked Iran, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to give priority to South Korean vessels seeking to exit the strait.

Whether transit will resume in earnest remains uncertain, however. Iran recently declared a re-closure of the strait, citing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon as a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire MOU. At the same time, the transit application system continues to operate and some vessel movement has begun.

The shipping industry has welcomed the first passages as a positive sign, but operators say the timeline for the remaining vessels will only become clear once follow-on US-Iran negotiations conclude and Iranian authorities issue final guidance.

"We plan to continue providing transit-related information and real-time monitoring to support the safe passage of our vessels," a ministry official said.