The Company's VLCC Universal Winner Carries About 2 Million Barrels Under Contract to SK Innovation Expected in Ulsan on June 8
HMM’s 50,000-ton class medium-sized tanker “Oriental Aquamarine.” (Photo provided by HMM)
It has been confirmed that a very large crude carrier belonging to the national shipping company HMM, which had been stranded for nearly three months, is currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Accordingly, expectations are growing that the remaining vessels trapped in the strait will also be able to escape in the near future.
However, cautious views are also emerging in the industry that the situation must be monitored further, as the circumstances in the Middle East are changing moment by moment.
According to the shipping industry on May 20, HMM’s very large crude carrier (VLCC) Universal Winner is currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Universal Winner measures 336 meters in length and 60 meters in width, and its deadweight tonnage, which is the maximum weight it can safely carry while navigating, is 299,981 tons, According to HMM.
A total of 21 crew members, including 9 Korean sailors, are currently aboard the vessel, and it is known to be carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil contracted with SK Innovation. This is close to the daily crude oil consumption in South Korea.
According to HMM, although the Universal Winner has not yet left the danger zone, it is expected to enter the SK Terminal in Ulsan around June 8, about 3 weeks later, if it safely passes through the Strait of Hormuz and arrives in the Gulf of Oman.
It is reported that once the Universal Winner arrives at Ulsan Port, the crude oil will be put into SK Energy’s refining process and utilized to produce petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel.
An HMM official said, “The Universal Winner is currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but it has not yet escaped the danger zone,” and added, “If it arrives safely in the Gulf of Oman, it is expected to reach South Korea in about 3 weeks.”
It is known that there was cooperation from the Iranian authorities for this passage.
It is reported that the Iranian authorities had previously notified the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Iran that the Universal Winner could pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
If the Universal Winner successfully passes through, it will become the first instance of a South Korean oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, about 7 very large crude carriers contracted with four major domestic oil refiners have been waiting inside the strait, and the Universal Winner is understood to be the first among them to begin moving.
Expectations are rising in the industry that other vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz will also be able to escape the strait, prompted by the passage of the Universal Winner.
Currently, a total of 25 ships, excluding the Universal Winner, are trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.
Among them, 16 are crude oil and petroleum product carriers, and in addition, 5 bulk carriers, 1 container carrier, 2 gas carriers, and 1 car carrier are isolated.
They have been stranded on the coast of the Persian Gulf for nearly 3 months since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28.
A shipping industry official said, “As far as I know, there are no additional vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz other than the Universal Winner as of now,” and added, “It is true that expectations have grown that they can escape the strait, prompted by this passage.”
He then added, “However, as the situation in the Middle East region is changing moment by moment, it is too early to prejudge the situation, and it seems that we will have to continue monitoring it.”
Jung Min-hee
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