As the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it was found on the 4th that there are about 10 foreign-flagged ships near the strait with Korean crew members aboard. Considering there are 40 ships operated by Korean shipping companies, that means Korean crew members are aboard a total of about 50 ships. Most vessels are at anchorages such as in Dubai within the strait—coastal areas where ships can safely stay—and there are no known issues with crew safety at this time.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the shipping industry on the 4th, among ships near the Strait of Hormuz facing operational restrictions, about 10 foreign-flagged ships have Korean crew members aboard. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), together with the Korea Ship Managers' Association and others, identified the figure through ship managers who dispatch crew to foreign-flagged ships.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) determined that these vessels are moored or anchored at anchorages and are in a safe situation, and it is checking the exact number of Korean crew members. According to the Korea Seafarers' Statistical Yearbook, as of the end of 2024, there are 1,273 crew members serving on merchant ships with foreign flags. There are 8,833 crew members on merchant ships operated by Korean-flag carriers engaged in international service.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) is leaving open the possibility that some crew members may have boarded foreign-flagged ships directly without going through ship managers, and plans to determine whether there are additional ships with Korean crew members by contacting foreign shipping companies individually.
The government earlier confirmed that there are 40 ships operated by Korean shipping companies in waters near Hormuz. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) upgraded its emergency preparedness team to an emergency response team the previous day and opened a 24-hour emergency consultation and communication channel to identify the safety and difficulties of crew members on ships in waters near Hormuz.
Shipping companies with vessels tied up in waters near Hormuz are also closely watching the situation. HMM, which has one container ship anchored at Dubai Port, is communicating with crew members in real time to check their status. The ship is scheduled to depart Dubai Port after finishing cargo handling, but no decision has been made yet on rerouting, among other measures.
Pan Ocean, which also has vessels tied up in waters near Hormuz, is monitoring the situation with crew safety as the top priority. H-Line Shipping, which is scheduled to have a ship arrive in waters near Hormuz at the end of this month, is likewise watching the situation.
A shipping industry official said, "Oman, which is outside the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Saudi Arabia and Dubai within the strait, are relatively safe," adding, "With the strait closed and air routes blocked, we would have to devise countermeasures if the situation worsens, but for now, watching closely is the best course."