SEOUL: An oil tanker that successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz has arrived in South Korea, marking the first such vessel to reach the country via that route since Iran announced the closure of the strategically vital waterway.
The Malta-flagged tanker Odessa, carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil, docked on Friday, according to AFP.
Its safe passage is being viewed as a significant development in global energy logistics amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
The vessel was observed at around 10:00 AM local time (0100 GMT) near a mooring facility off the coast of Seosan. AFP journalists monitoring the area confirmed its arrival, noting steady port activity following its docking.
According to Industry sources, the cargo is expected to provide considerable relief to South Korea’s energy supply chain.
The shipment alone accounts for nearly half of the country’s average daily crude oil consumption, a factor likely to stabilise domestic supply conditions in the short term.
The development comes as regional tensions continue to affect maritime trade routes, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point of global energy security concerns.
