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[Herald Economy = Reporter Yoon Ho] Authorities have begun towing the HMM Namu, a bulk carrier that caught fire while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. The tug left the scene the morning of the 7th (Korean time) and could reach Dubai as early as that night to begin a formal investigation. With no clear signs of external impact so far, investigators say a drifting mine or another accidental cause is more likely than a deliberate attack.
HMM said a tug that departed Dubai around 3:30 a.m. arrived near the Namu. Crews planned to begin full towing operations after sunrise (about 6 a.m. local, 11 a.m. Korean time). The operation is expected to take several hours, so the exact departure time for Dubai remains uncertain. The straight-line distance from the scene to Dubai Port is roughly 70 km (about 43.5 miles), and transit should take about 10–12 hours.
If the schedule holds, the Namu could arrive in Dubai later the same day for an in-depth investigation. So far, inspectors have found no obvious puncture marks on the hull consistent with gunfire or similar attacks.
An HMM official said the ship does not appear to be leaking, cracked, or structurally broken.
Several scenarios remain under consideration. Any external impact appears to have been minor; if the ship was struck, the contact may have grazed the hull without creating a hole. Such a glancing blow could dent the structure and nick electrical wiring, potentially sparking a fire. Investigators regard a scenario in which a missile or large projectile arced into the vessel’s interior and caused the blaze as unlikely, given the fire’s pattern.
The Namu remains afloat in open water, so teams still cannot fully assess its condition, but no clear hull dents have been found to date. Given the limited scale of external damage, authorities are weighing the possibility that a drifting mine or debris, rather than an intentional attack, caused the incident.
Officials plan to tow the Namu to Dubai Port and conduct on-site inspections and forensic analysis to determine the cause. Seoul will dispatch personnel from the Korea Register’s Dubai branch, investigators from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal, and forensic experts from the National Fire Agency to assist in the probe.
On May 4, an explosion and subsequent fire erupted on the port side of the engine room while the Namu was in the Strait of Hormuz. The Panama-flagged bulk carrier is operated by HMM. The crew has brought the emergency generator online and secured food and drinking water; the 24 crew members on board, including six Koreans, are reported to be maintaining normal conditions.
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