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[Herald Economy = Reporter Choi Eun-ji] A government joint investigation team continued detailed forensic inspections of the HMM bulk carrier NAMU on the second day of its probe, putting the investigation back on track after the ship caught fire while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. Investigators have centered their work on the engine room, where the blaze is believed to have started, and are re-examining the possibility of an external strike from the ground up.
According to Yonhap, on May 9 (local time) the joint team — composed of three investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four forensic specialists from South Korea’s National Fire Agency — conducted a second day of on-site examinations of NAMU while the vessel remained docked at Drydocks World in Dubai.
The team has secured the voyage data recorder (VDR), the ship’s equivalent of a black box, along with CCTV footage, and is conducting a detailed analysis to reconstruct the sequence of events. Investigators are also cross-checking crew statements collected the previous day to identify any mechanical anomalies or unusual activity immediately before the fire.
The central question remains whether the blaze resulted from an internal cause, such as equipment failure, or from an external strike, potentially like an attack attributed to Iran. To date, no obvious external impact marks have been seen on the hull. Investigators, however, plan an in-depth forensic inspection of the lower port-side stern engine room, which they have identified as the likely point of origin, before drawing conclusions.
To examine areas below the waterline—sections of the hull that meet the sea and are difficult to inspect visually—the team is keeping all options open, including deploying underwater drones or divers and, if necessary, using cranes to lift the hull for closer inspection.
All 24 crewmembers, including six South Koreans, disembarked after face-to-face interviews with investigators the previous night. They have been moved to accommodations in Dubai to rest; decisions about returning to South Korea will depend on the remaining investigation schedule and the ship’s repair timeline.
HMM said it will review the investigation findings and the extent of hull damage and then develop a repair plan.
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