South Korea investigates HMM cargo ship fire in Strait of Hormuz

A seven-member South Korean government team began examining the cause of a fire aboard the HMM Namu, a Korean-operated cargo ship that caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, as conflicting accounts have emerged over whether the blaze resulted from an Iranian attack or an onboard malfunction, according to The Korea Times.

The incident draws attention to the risks facing Korean-operated vessels in one of the world's most strategically contested waterways, at a moment when U.S.-Iran tensions have disrupted commercial shipping. The investigation's findings could carry significant diplomatic and insurance consequences for South Korean maritime operators.

The HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged vessel operated by South Korean shipping firm HMM, caught fire while stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, May 5, The Korea Times reported. The ship reached Drydocks World Dubai — identified as the Middle East's largest ship repair yard — on Friday for repairs and investigation.

The investigation team comprises three officials from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four experts from the National Fire Agency, totaling seven members conducting the inquiry at the Dubai facility.

Twenty-five sailors were questioned and subsequently disembarked, including six Korean nationals. All crew members have been moved to a Dubai accommodation facility. Investigators are reviewing the vessel's voyage data recorder, onboard closed-circuit television footage and crew member testimony, according to The Korea Times.

The fire's cause remains under dispute. Competing claims have attributed the blaze to an Iranian attack or to an internal mechanical failure, The Korea Times reported. The incident coincided with the United States' launch of what it called "Project Freedom," an operation aimed at assisting vessels stranded in the waterway amid heightened regional tensions.

The Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal is expected to continue its review as investigators work through onboard data recordings and additional crew testimony before issuing formal findings.