Mombasa B, an oil tanker owned by domestic carrier Janggeum Maritime, entered the inside of the Strait of Hormuz following 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 China's Zhoushan Port and is sailing toward Basra Port in southern Iraq. According to MarineTraffic, a vessel-tracking site, the ship 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.
Early this year, Janggeum Maritime established a special purpose company (SPC) and acquired the vessel from Norwegian carrier Frontline. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, it was confirmed that there are no Korean crew members currently on board Mombasa B.
Janggeum Maritime is a company 100% owned in equity by Director Jeong Ga-hyeon, the eldest son of Sinokor Merchant Marine Chairman Jeong Tae-sun, and has been aggressively expanding its very large crude carrier (VLCC) fleet since the end of last year.
Recently, it has been pursuing joint management with Switzerland's 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.