 |
Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] HMM has begun towing operations for its vessel Namoo, which suffered an onboard explosion and fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with the ship expected to arrive in Dubai as early as May 7 for a full-scale investigation.
The company said on May 6 that it has secured a high-powered tugboat to move the vessel to Dubai Port, citing the ship’s limited ability to navigate on its own. The arrival is expected on May 7 or 8, after which authorities will launch a comprehensive inspection. Experts from the Korean Register’s Dubai office, investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal, and fire authorities are expected to participate in the probe.
The incident occurred at around 8:40 p.m. (KST) on May 4, when an explosion and fire broke out in the port-side engine room of the vessel while it was anchored near waters off the United Arab Emirates within the Strait of Hormuz. Crew members managed to extinguish the fire after approximately four hours using a carbon dioxide suppression system, preventing casualties. A total of 24 crew members—six Koreans and 18 foreign nationals—were onboard at the time.
HMM has taken a cautious stance on identifying the cause, emphasizing that a full inspection must be conducted after the vessel is docked. Residual carbon dioxide in the engine room is also complicating initial assessments.
An HMM official noted that the matter has escalated into a diplomatic issue, adding that it may be difficult for the company to independently determine the cause. The official also said that, contrary to claims made by Donald Trump, the vessel had not taken any independent or unusual action prior to the incident.
Industry sources suggest that the investigation could take an extended period. While speculation has emerged about external factors, the likelihood of an internal mechanical failure is considered low, given that the vessel is a relatively newbuild launched last year. Reports also indicate that a nearby Chinese vessel may have experienced an unexplained impact at the time of the incident, based on radio communications heard by crew members aboard another HMM container ship, Daon, located approximately 3 kilometers away.
Some in the industry believe the incident may have been intended as a warning rather than a targeted attack, though the exact cause remains undetermined.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
