Iran Threatens Legal Action Against South Korean Carrier Sinokor Over Hormuz Transits
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Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) announced that all vessels belonging to South Korean shipping company Sinokor will face 'legal action' starting November 1, accusing the company of repeated violations of the transit rules that Tehran enforces in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran's Accusations
According to the PGSA, Sinokor's vessels recorded the highest number of transit violations in the strait over the past three months, and the authority stated it had taken 'appropriate measures' against at least seven of them. According to Splash247, this warning marks the first time Iran has publicly singled out an entire shipping company rather than individual vessels, although it did not specify what the announced legal action would entail.
A Key Player in Crude Oil Trade
Sinokor became the largest VLCC operator in the Gulf since the conflict began, rapidly expanding its fleet and capitalizing on extraordinary freight rates. A vessel-tracking analysis by Bloomberg, cited by Splash247 and Xinde Marine News, estimated that Sinokor-controlled tankers transported around 105.6 million barrels of crude through Hormuz in September, equivalent to 37% of the total monthly volume, more than Bahri, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, and ADNOC's shipping unit combined.
Sinokor's Response
The Korea Shipowners' Association responded to Tehran's accusations, noting that the vessels identified in the dispute were sub-chartered to a foreign oil company and did not carry South Korean crew. Sinokor stated it was reviewing the details of Iran's warning before issuing a formal statement.
Context of Tension in Hormuz
The dispute comes amid growing instability in navigation through the strait. Tehran had previously included Sinokor vessels on an August list naming 45 tankers flagged for breaching its transit rules, while the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran-linked vessels in the area. According to Baird Maritime, Gulf producers adapted to the crackdowns by resorting to 'dark transits,' switching off tracking systems to avoid detection and thereby protect their oil exports.
