Korean-operated ship left disabled in Strait of Hormuz following fire possibly from attack: HMM
Published: 05 May. 2026, 10:48
Updated: 05 May. 2026, 16:32
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- MICHAEL LEE
- [email protected]
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- PAIK JI-HWAN
- [email protected]
![A container ship sits at anchor as a small motorboat passes in the foreground in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 2. [AP/YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/05/44b347ff-ddc4-4337-a57e-baa0d5c37127.jpg)
A container ship sits at anchor as a small motorboat passes in the foreground in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 2. [AP/YONHAP]
The Korean-operated cargo ship HMM Namu caught fire late on Monday following an explosion while anchored near the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leaving it disabled in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the shipping company HMM and Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The blaze has been extinguished, but the Panama-flagged ship appears to have suffered severe damage to its propulsion system, leaving it unable to move under its own power.
The incident, which some suspect may have been an attack, came to light after a phone conversation between Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday, in which Cho called for the resumption of safe navigation through the strait.
“An explosion occurred at around 8:40 p.m., followed by a fire that was not brought under control until after midnight,” an HMM representative said. “We used carbon dioxide to suppress the fire.”
The company representative added that the exact cause has not yet been identified, but that there were no casualties among the 24 crew members, which include six Koreans and 18 foreign nationals.
The fire broke out in the engine room on the port side, and while there has been no confirmed hull breach or flooding, industry insiders said the extent of the damage suggests the vessel is effectively immobilized.
![Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 4. [REUTERS/YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/05/61b7c208-5929-48e7-86a6-40276e3ae512.jpg)
Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 4. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
“The use of [carbon dioxide] indicates a fairly large fire,” one shipping industry source said. “Given that [the fire] occurred in the engine room, it is likely the ship has lost its ability to operate on its own.”
HMM said that it plans to dispatch tugboats to tow the vessel to a nearby port in Dubai, a process expected to take several days. The 35,000-ton general cargo ship was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but Korean authorities are examining the possibility that the ship was attacked while at anchor.
The Korea Coast Guard has also notified maritime rescue agencies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Oman, requesting emergency assistance if needed.
“Consular officials are working to confirm whether the Korean vessel had been attacked,” said a Korean government official, who added that the ship “appeared to have been struck while at anchor.”
Some observers have pointed to the possibility of a drone strike or another external attack, though alternative explanations — including a drifting sea mine — have not been ruled out.
The incident comes amid a sharp escalation of the conflict in the region, as the United States launched a naval operation aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries roughly a fifth of global oil supply. The waterway has effectively been blocked following renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had fired on the Korean vessel and other targets, linking the incident to the broader conflict. “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated nations with respect to the ship movement, including a Korean cargo ship,” he wrote on social media. “Perhaps it’s time for Korea to come and join the mission.”
The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” is intended to guide stranded commercial vessels through the strait and deter further attacks.
![Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 4. [REUTERS/YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/05/eda05166-5f7b-4b19-8337-a43c932bbd76.jpg)
Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 4. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
The U.S. Central Command said it has deployed guided-missile destroyers, aircraft and thousands of personnel and has already intercepted drones and missiles while destroying several Iranian small boats.
Trump’s remarks, including a renewed call for Seoul to join the effort, are likely to increase pressure on Korea, which relies heavily on the strait for energy imports but has so far taken a cautious stance on direct military involvement.
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said it is in close contact with relevant countries and is monitoring the situation. “Our government will communicate closely with relevant countries regarding this matter and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our vessels and crew members inside the Strait of Hormuz,” the ministry said.
The government has also moved to coordinate with regional maritime authorities, including those in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Oman, to prepare for any emergency response.
As of press time on Tuesday, 26 Korean-linked vessels remain in the strait, carrying a total of 160 Korean nationals, including those aboard foreign-flagged ships.
BY YONHAP, KO SUK-HYUN, MICHAEL LEE, PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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