Another Successful Red Sea Bypass for Crude Oil Transport... Third Korean Vessel En Route to Korea
by Kang Nahum
Published 06 May.2026 14:49(KST)
Crude Oil Being Transported to Korea
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries: "24-Hour Monitoring and Real-Time Response System in Operation"
Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, additional domestic crude oil shipments have been made using the alternative route via the Red Sea. Despite instability in the Middle East, the government continues to support the safe navigation of Korean vessels and to respond to stabilize domestic crude oil supply.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on May 6 that, as of 9 a.m., a third Korean vessel had safely transited the Red Sea and is currently transporting crude oil to Korea.
This vessel loaded crude oil at the Port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and is now en route to Korea via the Red Sea. This marks the third case of utilizing the Red Sea bypass route since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, the government announced on April 17 and May 3 that Korean vessels were safely transporting crude oil through the Red Sea.
However, the Red Sea route is considered one of the world's high-risk shipping lanes due to potential attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, among other risks. In response, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is operating a 24-hour real-time monitoring system for the duration of the vessels' voyages, providing navigational safety information, and maintaining real-time communication channels between the ministry, shipping companies, and vessels.
An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "We will continue to do our best to support the safe navigation of Korean vessels and to stabilize the domestic crude oil supply."
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