South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that a Korean vessel loaded with crude oil from Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia safely departed the Red Sea on Friday. This marks the first time crude oil has been transported via an alternative route following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea has been actively exploring the use of the Red Sea as an alternative shipping lane to the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries provided safety assurances for the crew and the vessel, including 24-hour real-time monitoring and establishing real-time communication channels between the ministry, the vessel, and the shipping company.