'Hormuz Fire' HMM Vessel Awaiting Tow... Crew to Remain Onboard

The HMM-operated cargo ship that caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly awaiting towing while running on an emergency generator.

According to HMM on May 5, the 'HMM Namu' is standing by in waters near the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where a fire broke out the previous day.

Cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Not related to this article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The HMM Namu experienced a fire, which caused the power supply to be automatically cut, leaving the vessel unable to move on its own. Once a tugboat is secured, the ship will be transported to the nearby Port of Dubai, after which the six crew members of Korean nationality are scheduled to return home. Currently, all 24 crew members, including the Korean crew, remain on board without any significant injuries from the fire.

Once a tugboat is arranged, the vessel will be moved to the nearest Port of Dubai, where the extent of the damage will be assessed and the cause of the incident investigated. However, taking into account the towing process and the timeline for relocation, it is expected that a considerable amount of time will be required before the investigation into the cause of the incident can begin.

Yoo Jung Kang, chief spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated in a written briefing on this day, "Considering the deployment and berthing of the tugboat, the dispatch of a domestic investigation team, and the analysis period, it is expected that it will take several days to analyze the cause."

Previously, at around 8:40 p.m. (Korean time) the previous day, an explosion and fire broke out on the HMM Namu, operated by Korean shipping company HMM, in waters near the UAE within the Strait of Hormuz. There were six Korean nationals and 18 foreign crew members on board the HMM Namu, and it has been confirmed that there were no casualties from the fire.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.