South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that the Namu cargo ship, which was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in May, will leave the area by mid-July at the earliest after repairs.
Attack and Investigation
The ship was hit near its stern. In a statement on May 27, Seoul argued that an Iranian-made anti-ship missile was likely used in the attack, summoned Iran's Ambassador to Seoul Saeed Koozechi to the Foreign Ministry, and issued a protest note.
According to the Yonhap news agency, Ambassador Koozechi denied Tehran's involvement in the attack. South Korea later announced that it could not definitively determine who was responsible for the attack or whether it was intentional.
Current Status and Transits
Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs Nam Jae-heon said at a press conference on Wednesday that two ships, including the Namu, were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and that 35 crew members were on board the vessels. Nam added that 21 South Korean-operated ships had safely transited the strait after Washington and Tehran signed a ceasefire two weeks ago.
Repair Costs and Compensation
A ministry official stated at the press conference that shipping company HMM is covering the repair costs. A company spokesperson also confirmed to Reuters that they are covering the cost and will file a claim with their insurance company.
In response to a Reuters question on whether South Korea would demand compensation for the repair costs from Iran or the United States, Nam said an evaluation could be made in the coming process but did not provide details.
Background
Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz to ship traffic following attacks launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. This development led to a sharp rise in global oil prices and increased concerns for the world economy.
