19th Korean tanker carries Red Sea crude via Suez Canal since Hormuz blockade
In short
South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on 20 October that a Korean ship loaded with crude at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia was passing through the Suez Canal toward Korea. It is the 19th Korean ship to bring crude by way of the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded. Korean tankers have used the northern Suez route since mid-August.
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South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on 20 October that, as of 10:00, a Korean ship that had loaded crude oil at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia was passing through the Suez Canal on its way to Korea. Yonhap, Newsis and CBS NoCut News each reported the ministry's statement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets count it as the 19th Korean ship to carry crude oil by way of the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded. Yonhap dated the Iran war and the blockade to the end of February. CBS NoCut News attributed the blockade to the Middle East war. [ 1 , 3 ]
Yonhap and CBS NoCut News gave the route's background. Korean tankers began loading crude at Yanbu in April and sailed south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Military clashes between Saudi Arabia and the pro-Iran Houthi rebels then raised the risk in that strait, and from mid-August the ships went north through the Suez Canal instead. [ 1 , 3 ]
Yonhap added that the Suez route requires ships to pass through the Mediterranean and round the southern tip of Africa. That lengthens the voyage and raises costs. No document gives figures for the extra distance or cost. [ 1 ]
The ministry said the decision to use the northern Suez Canal rather than the southern Bab el-Mandeb Strait was made by shipping companies and cargo owners. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Newsis, a ministry official said the ministry supported the ship's safety by providing safety information while it sailed in the Red Sea and by keeping a real-time communication system with the shipping company and the ship. Newsis also reported that the ministry intends to keep supporting ship safety in order to stabilise domestic crude supply. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The reports show Korean crude deliveries continuing by way of the Red Sea while the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded. Yonhap reported that the Suez route means a longer voyage and higher costs.
Key facts
- As of 10:00 on 20 October, a Korean ship that loaded crude at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia was passing through the Suez Canal toward Korea, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Outlets count it as the 19th Korean ship to carry crude by way of the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz was blockaded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Korean tankers loaded at Yanbu and went south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from April, then switched to the Suez Canal from mid-August. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Yonhap and CBS NoCut News said the switch followed military clashes between Saudi Arabia and the pro-Iran Houthi rebels that raised the risk in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The ministry said the choice of the northern Suez route was made by shipping companies and cargo owners. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A ministry official said it provided safety information during the Red Sea voyage and kept a real-time communication system with the shipping company and the ship. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ministry said a Korean ship loaded with crude at Yanbu was heading to Korea through the Suez Canal as of 10:00 on 20 October, the 19th such Red Sea crude shipment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry said the use of the Suez Canal instead of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was decided by the shipping company and cargo owner. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Korean tankers have used the Suez Canal since mid-August because of higher risk in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The name of the ship, the size of its cargo and the identity of its owner. None of the documents gives these details.
- How much extra cost the Suez route adds. Yonhap said the route lengthens the voyage and raises costs but gave no figures.