South Korean cargo vessel Namu is set to leave the Strait of Hormuz by mid-July following repairs for damage sustained in a May attack.
Seoul had initially pointed to an Iranian anti-ship missile as the likely cause for the damage, although responsibility for the incident was still to be officially determined.
The hull of the bulk carrier, operated by HMM, was struck near the stern. Following the incident, Seoul stated on 27 May that an Iranian anti-ship missile was the probable cause, leading to the summoning of Iran’s ambassador to share investigation findings and lodge a formal protest.
However, Saeed Koozechi, Iran’s ambassador to South Korea, denied Tehran’s involvement, according to Yonhap news agency. South Korea subsequently acknowledged it could not conclusively determine responsibility or the intentional nature of the attack.
Currently, two South Korean vessels, including the Namu, remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz with 35 crew members aboard, vice oceans minister Nam Jae Heon stated at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Mr Nam noted that 21 South Korean-operated vessels had safely navigated the strait since Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire two weeks ago.
HMM is covering the repair costs for the ship, according to an oceans ministry official, with a company spokesperson telling Reuters they plan to lodge an insurance claim.
When questioned about potential reimbursement from Iran or the US, Mr Nam indicated South Korea “may consider a review later”, without further elaboration.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the US and Israel launched a war on the country on 28 February, a move that significantly drove up global oil prices and sparked concerns over broader economic impact.
