The South Korean tanker passed through the Suez Canal on October 5, 2026, and is transporting crude oil to South Korea. This event occurs as this tanker is the 18th vessel to transport crude oil to the country via the Red Sea after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Details of the passage through the Suez Canal
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea announced that the ship safely passed through the Suez Canal by 10 AM that day and is currently heading towards Korea. This is the first time a South Korean tanker has passed through the Suez Canal, which has been blocked for about a month and a half.
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Route changes due to tensions
After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the end of February, South Korean tankers were forced to use the Red Sea as an alternative route. This route involves loading crude oil at the Yanbu port in Saudi Arabia and passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. However, increased military tensions between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels supported by Iran raised the risks of passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, leading tankers to turn to the northern route of the Suez Canal since mid-August.
The new route requires passing through the Mediterranean Sea and rounding the southern tip of the African continent, which increases travel distance and financial burdens for shipping companies.
Decision-making for route selection
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea stated that “the decision to pass through the northern Suez Canal, instead of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the southern Red Sea, was made by shipping companies and cargo owners.” This decision reflects strategic changes in crude oil transportation under complex regional conditions.
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