Fire-hit HMM-operated cargo ship is towed from the Strait of Hormuz to Dubai for inspection and repairs
The HMM Namuho (Provided by HMM)
An HMM-operated cargo ship, which suffered damage from a fire caused by an explosion while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, has arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and an investigation to determine the cause of the accident has commenced.
According to Yonhap News on May 8, the HMM Namuho, which had been anchored in the waters near Umm Al Quwain, UAE, was towed by a tugboat to the vicinity of the port of Dubai, arriving at 5:20 a.m. on the same day, Korea Standard Time.
The Namuho is scheduled to be berthed at a pier at Drydocks World Dubai, the largest repair shipyard in the Middle East, by a pilot, after which it will undergo procedures for the accident investigation and repairs.
HMM reported that completing the berthing process would take approximately three more hours. The investigation will be conducted by a government investigation team composed of three investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four forensic experts from the National Fire Agency.
The core of the investigation is to determine whether the cause of the explosion was due to external factors, including a potential attack by Iran, or internal factors, such as a defect in the vessel.
In relation to the Namuho accident, it was reported that no breach in the hull, which could suggest a military attack, has been confirmed, and that the vessel did not take on water or list at the time of the accident.
This is cited as a reason for the South Korean government’s cautious stance, despite the possibility of an attack by Iranian drones or mines. However, points such as the crew hearing a loud explosion, reportedly different from one caused by internal factors, and the fact that there had been a warning about floating sea mines, suggest the possibility that the cause of the accident may be external.
The situation is marked by conflicting claims, with media reports suggesting the Namuho’s fire was due to an attack by the Iranian military, and military authorities denying such assertions. The fire on the Namuho occurred around the afternoon of the 4th, the same day the United States initiated a ‘liberation project’ to assist ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. The fire, which broke out on the port side of the engine room, was extinguished by the Namuho’s crew in approximately four hours using a carbon dioxide fire suppression system.
Although the submerged portion of the hull cannot be visually inspected, the site of the internal fire has been preserved intact, which is expected to aid in determining the cause. All 24 crew members, including six of Korean nationality, who were on board at the time of the incident, have remained on the vessel.
It is reported that a decision has not yet been made on whether the crew will disembark during the period of the accident investigation and vessel repairs.
Kim Eun-jin
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