Fire suddenly erupted on the port side of the engine room
24 people, including six Korean crew, are safe
Authorities will tow the ship to Dubai Port for a detailed investigation
24 people, including six Korean crew, are safe
Authorities will tow the ship to Dubai Port for a detailed investigation
A fire broke out aboard the HMM-operated vessel NAMU, which had been anchored near Umm al-Quwain Port in the United Arab Emirates, around 3:40 p.m. local time on the 4th after a loud thud. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, crew reported an unexplained explosion followed by flames. Sailors said the blaze began on the port side of the engine room. The Panama-flagged NAMU was operated by South Korea’s HMM and carried 24 people at the time, including six Korean seafarers. An HMM official said there were no injuries and that the fire started in the ship’s lower compartments, areas that are difficult for personnel to access and that complicated firefighting efforts. Government officials said the crew fought the fire for roughly four hours, discharging carbon dioxide into the engine room before bringing the blaze under control.
To protect Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the government ordered ships near the UAE to move toward Qatari waters. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said 26 Korean-flagged ships with 123 Korean crew remain stuck inside the Strait. Including 37 Koreans aboard foreign-flagged vessels, the total number of Korean seafarers in the Strait is 160.
The government said it will determine whether the vessel was struck only after a detailed investigation. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it is unclear whether the NAMU can operate under its own power; investigators will assess the damage once the ship is towed. The government is urgently sourcing a tug to bring the NAMU to Dubai Port, UAE. Officials expect the cause analysis will take several days. Kang Yoo-jung, senior Blue House spokesperson, said the probe will require days given the time needed to deploy a tug, secure berthing, dispatch domestic investigators and complete the analysis.
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