South Korean authorities are investigating the cause of a fire on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after an explosion occurred on the Korea-operated cargo ship HMM Namu on Monday.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s presidential office convened a meeting to discuss its response to the fire aboard the bulk carrier operated by South Korean shipper HMM Co.
The Panama-flagged vessel was anchored in waters offshore the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when the explosion occurred early on Monday Middle Eastern time. The fire started in the engine room, with the cause under investigation by both the company operating the ship and the South Korean government.
“It remains unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction,” an official at HMM told Korean news agency Yonhap on Tuesday.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by Reuters that “The exact cause of the accident would be figured out after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed.”
HMM, the ship’s operator, plans to tow the vessel to Dubai, which is expected to take several days. No injuries have been reported, and all crew are safe and accounted for, the shipper said.
According to industry officials who spoke to Yonhap, South Korea-operated ships that remain in waters off the UAE have started moving west toward Qatar in line with government measures to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz for safety.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship,” and that “Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!”
South Korea has not commented on President Trump’s accusation that Iran targeted the ship.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains very tense and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on teetering on the brink after the U.S. said it would guide vessels out of the Strait while Iran threatened to attack any foreign forces attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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