South Korean-flagged ships stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz appear to be moving east toward the strait's gateway. The shift is seen as a move in anticipation that passage could resume as the United States and Iran enter cease-fire talks, but many in the industry say it remains uncertain whether the vessels can exit the strait soon as the situation in the area continues to change rapidly.
As of the 21st, about 90% of the 26 South Korean-flagged ships stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz have moved to waters near the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the shipping industry. After the war between the United States and Iran broke out at the end of February, they had been anchored in the waters of nearby countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, monitoring the situation, and reportedly shifted position over the past week.
The industry believes the ships moved near the gateway so they can exit the strait as quickly as possible if passage resumes soon under the ongoing U.S.-Iran cease-fire talks.
A ship operated by a domestic carrier recently entered the Strait of Hormuz, and on the 17th the strait was temporarily opened in line with the cease-fire talks.
Domestic carriers that own or operate ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, including HMM, Sinokor Merchant Marine, and Pan Ocean, are incurring about $1.43 million (about 2.2 billion won) per day in expense due to higher insurance premiums, labor costs, and fuel costs stemming from the war.
However, many expect it will be difficult for South Korean ships to exit the strait immediately, as conditions in the Strait of Hormuz are changing by the hour and Iran's position on passage through the strait keeps shifting.
In fact, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reimposed a blockade a day after temporarily opening the Strait of Hormuz in protest of the United States' blockade against Iran. Tankers and container ships passing through the strait were subsequently attacked in succession. The United States is also said to be preparing to seize ships linked to Iran, heightening military tensions between the two sides again.
An industry official said, "As expectations for passage through the Strait of Hormuz grew over the weekend, it appears the ships moved." The official added, "Iran's stance keeps changing, and both sides continue to take hard-line positions, so even if the strait reopens, it will be difficult for ships to pass immediately."
An official at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said, "As the United States and Iran are continuing negotiations, the government is also closely monitoring the situation," adding, "There is nothing unusual yet regarding the resumption of operations through the strait."
The United States and Iran plan to hold talks under a cease-fire through the 21st.