[Anchor] A tow operation is under way to recover the HMM bulk carrier Namoo after an explosion and fire in waters off the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say the ship will be moved to Port of Dubai. We’ll go now to our correspondent on the scene for details. Kim Seon-hong. [Reporter] I’m reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A tug arrived at the accident site last night (the 6th, local time) to begin towing the Namoo, which was left stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after an explosion and a fire in the engine room. The blaze disabled the ship’s propulsion, leaving it unable to sail under its own power. The tug is scheduled to bring the vessel to Dubai Drydocks World at Port of Dubai, the Middle East’s largest repair facility. Tow operations began around 6 a.m. local time today. The distance from the accident site to Port of Dubai is roughly 70 kilometers (about 43 miles). The tug arrived later than expected, and hauling a very large bulk carrier is a complex, slow operation. An HMM official said the ship will move “as slowly as a tractor on a highway,” and, given sea conditions, the transit could take about 12 hours. At the earliest, the ship may not arrive until this evening. [Anchor] Once the tow is complete, will investigators start probing the cause on site? [Reporter] Yes. When Namoo reaches the Dubai shipyard, repair work will begin and investigators will launch a full-scale probe. Participants will include staff from the Korean Register’s Dubai office, investigators from South Korea’s Central Maritime Safety Tribunal, and fire-forensics specialists from the National Fire Agency. The United States and Iran have traded competing claims about what caused the fire. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Namoo was struck while operating alone; Iran dismissed that as an unfounded accusation. Seoul has said a strike has not been confirmed. International security sources have suggested an underwater drone or a drifting mine could be potential causes. All 24 crewmembers aboard, including six South Koreans, are confirmed safe and have indicated they will remain on board. South Korea currently reports 25 vessels and about 150 sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. The government has activated a 24-hour emergency control center. This is Kim Seon-hong for Yonhap News TV in Dubai. [Field connection: Ham Jeong-tae] #U.S. #Iran #Hormuz #Dubai #Namoo Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Kim Seon-hong (redsun@yna.co.kr)
What Caused the Namuho Fire? Insights into the Ongoing Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Kim Seon-hong | 2026.05.08
[Anchor] A tow operation is under way to recover the HMM bulk carrier Namoo after an explosion and fire in waters off the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say the ship will be moved to Port of Dubai. We’ll go now to our correspondent on the scene for details. Kim Seon-hong. [Reporter] I’m reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A tug arrived at the accident site last night (the 6th, local time) to begin towing the Namoo, which was left stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after an explosion and a fire in the engine room. The blaze disabled the ship’s propulsion, leaving it unable to sail under its own power. The tug is scheduled to bring the vessel to Dubai Drydocks World at Port of Dubai, the Middle East’s largest repair facility. Tow operations began around 6 a.m. local time today. The distance from the accident site to Port of Dubai is roughly 70 kilometers (about 43 miles). The tug arrived later than expected, and hauling a very large bulk carrier is a complex, slow operation. An HMM official said the ship will move “as slowly as a tractor on a highway,” and, given sea conditions, the transit could take about 12 hours. At the earliest, the ship may not arrive until this evening. [Anchor] Once the tow is complete, will investigators start probing the cause on site? [Reporter] Yes. When Namoo reaches the Dubai shipyard, repair work will begin and investigators will launch a full-scale probe. Participants will include staff from the Korean Register’s Dubai office, investigators from South Korea’s Central Maritime Safety Tribunal, and fire-forensics specialists from the National Fire Agency. The United States and Iran have traded competing claims about what caused the fire. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Namoo was struck while operating alone; Iran dismissed that as an unfounded accusation. Seoul has said a strike has not been confirmed. International security sources have suggested an underwater drone or a drifting mine could be potential causes. All 24 crewmembers aboard, including six South Koreans, are confirmed safe and have indicated they will remain on board. South Korea currently reports 25 vessels and about 150 sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. The government has activated a 24-hour emergency control center. This is Kim Seon-hong for Yonhap News TV in Dubai. [Field connection: Ham Jeong-tae] #U.S. #Iran #Hormuz #Dubai #Namoo Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Kim Seon-hong (redsun@yna.co.kr)
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