[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] he HMM bulk carrier HMM Namu, which caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, remains stranded as the company seeks to secure a tugboat for recovery.

As of May 5, no crew members have requested evacuation, with most choosing to stay onboard despite the incident.

An HMM official said, “We are arranging a tugboat, but it is unclear how long it will take,” adding that replacement personnel will be arranged if any crew members decide to disembark.

The vessel lost power following the fire and is currently unable to operate under its own propulsion. HMM is coordinating with local authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to secure towing support.

Once a tugboat is deployed, the ship is expected to be moved to a nearby port—likely Dubai—for repairs and a full investigation into the cause of the fire.

The South Korean government plans to dispatch experts to examine the vessel and is closely monitoring crew safety in real time. Officials indicated that determining the exact cause of the fire could take several days, considering the time needed for towing, docking, and technical analysis.

A presidential office spokesperson said in a written briefing that the investigation timeline will depend on factors such as tug deployment, port access, and the arrival of domestic inspection teams.

Separately, the government has issued safety advisories to Korean vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, instructing them to move toward the inner Persian Gulf near Qatar.

Currently, five HMM vessels remain in the region, including one container ship, two oil and petroleum product carriers, and two bulk carriers.

The HMM Namu, which experienced an explosion and fire the previous evening, had 24 crew members onboard—six Korean nationals and 18 foreign crew. No casualties have been reported.

 

 

 

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