HMM Cargo Ship Namu Fire in Strait of Hormuz... Heightened Anxiety in Shipping Industry

Investigation of Cause Planned After Towing to Dubai

Over 150 Korean Crew Members Relocated to Safe Zones

An explosion and fire of unknown cause aboard the HMM cargo vessel Namu in the Strait of Hormuz have heightened anxiety among domestic ships currently trapped in the area.

Tensions have escalated around the cause of the accident two days after a vessel operated by South Korean shipping company HMM suffered an explosion and fire in the Strait of Hormuz, where the United States and Iran have clashed. The photo shows the launch ceremony of the HMM Namu at Guangzhou in September of last year. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the shipping industry on May 6, HMM plans to tow the Namu to a nearby port in Dubai in order to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident. This operation is expected to take several days.

On May 4, while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, the Namu experienced a loud explosion, followed by a fire on the port side of the engine room. The crew extinguished the blaze within four hours by releasing carbon dioxide, and all 24 crew members, including six Koreans, were confirmed to be in good health.

Tensions among domestic ships unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz have grown further, as the precise cause of the fire—whether it was an attack or a vessel malfunction—remains unclear. In addition to the Namu, there are still 25 domestic ships and over 150 crew members inside the strait.

All of these vessels have moved to safe areas within the strait, and crew members can declare their intention to disembark and return home at any time if they wish. The crew's decision to disembark is strictly protected by law, and even if a labor contract is terminated during a voyage, the shipping company is responsible for the repatriation costs as a matter of principle.

However, it has been reported that the six Korean crew members on the Namu have not yet expressed their intention to return home. An HMM representative stated, "The crew on the other four HMM vessels have also not indicated a desire to disembark," adding, "We have prepared contingency measures, as we are required to allow crew members to disembark whenever they request it."

Meanwhile, similar ship fires have continued to occur in nearby waters. The UK Maritime Trade Operations announced that it had received reports the previous day of fires breaking out on two other vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

A shipping industry official stressed, "Fortunately, there were no injuries among the crew, but the fact that fires and explosions have occurred inevitably increases the sense of anxiety."

In the meantime, the government and major shipping companies are operating a 24-hour emergency control tower to ensure the safety of isolated crew members. In preparation for a prolonged situation, they are prioritizing the procurement and distribution of essential supplies such as drinking water and food. Once the Namu arrives in Dubai, personnel from the Korean Register's Dubai branch will be dispatched to conduct a safety inspection.

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