The tanker Mombasa B, operated by domestic carrier Janggeum Maritime, entered inside the Strait of Hormuz along a route designated by Iran.
According to the shipping industry on the 13th, Mombasa B passed the route between Larak Island and Qeshm Island approved by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the 12th and entered the Persian Gulf.
Mombasa B departed from Zhoushan Port in China and is sailing toward Basra Port in southern Iraq. According to the ship-tracking site MarineTraffic, the vessel is currently passing near Lavan Island in southern Iran.
However, it is not known whether Mombasa B paid a toll to the Iranian side to enter the Strait of Hormuz, or whether issues such as hull insurance or cargo insurance have been resolved.
The vessel was acquired from Norwegian carrier Frontline by a special purpose company (SPC) established earlier this year. The SPC has the same registered address as Janggeum Maritime, but Janggeum Maritime said it holds no equity in the SPC.
Janggeum Maritime effectively holds operating rights through a charter contract with the SPC that acquired the vessel. However, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, there are currently no Korean crew members aboard Mombasa B.
Janggeum Maritime is a company 100% owned by Director Jeong Ga-hyeon, the eldest son of Jeong Tae-sun, chair of Sinokor Merchant Marine, and since the end of last year it has been aggressively expanding its very large crude carrier (VLCC) fleet.
Recently, it has been pursuing joint management with Switzerland-based MSC, the world's largest carrier. Through a paid-in capital increase, MSC would secure 50% equity and expand capital to further grow the fleet.