Oceans Minister nominee Hwang Jong-woo said Monday he will ensure the safety of crewmembers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing them to leave their ships in an emergency. He also pledged to mobilize civilian vessels to transport crude oil and other resources through alternative routes to address the petroleum shortage following the war in Iran. “The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is prepared to help crewmembers disembark,” Hwang said during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, after being asked about communication channels with crew and trainees concerned about possible disadvantages if they leave their ships. In response to the monthlong suspension of crude shipments from the Middle East, he mentioned the potential use of “nationally essential ships.” Under the Act on Maintaining Marine Transportation and Port Functions to Prepare for Emergencies, the government can designate ships to deliver munitions and other goods critical to the national economy in times of war or other emergencies. The oceans ministry must provide compensation to the owners of such s