Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is resuming: Japanese and South Korean ships set sail
Japanese and South Korean vessels, held up in the Persian Gulf due to the Middle East conflict, have finally started their voyage through the Strait of Hormuz. Among them are ships associated with Japan and a supertanker carrying Saudi oil for South Korea.
According to Reuters, a group of ten vessels, including six supertankers, two chemical carriers, a car carrier, and a container ship, has set out toward the open sea. Most of these are operated by the Japanese group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and they carry Middle Eastern oil loaded at the end of February – early March in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
South Korean oil refiner S-Oil confirmed that their tanker Long Wind, carrying about 2 million barrels of Saudi oil, left the Strait of Hormuz on July 4. It is expected to arrive in South Korea on July 26.
This movement is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restore pre-war export volumes of oil. However, the situation remains tense, with Oman already warning European officials of possible levies for ships navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. Experts note that a complete restoration of navigation through the strait to pre-war conditions is unlikely for now.
| Vessel Type | Number | Load |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Supertankers | 6 | 12 million barrels of oil |
| Chemical Carriers | 2 | – |
| Car Carrier | 1 | – |
| Container Ship | 1 | – |
