HMM vessel fire in Strait of Hormuz extinguished; 24 crew safe
Key Takeaways
The HMM Namu , a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by HMM Co. , caught fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, 5 May 2025 .
The fire, which started in the engine room, was extinguished after approximately four hours using carbon dioxide.
All 24 crew members — 6 South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals — are safe with no injuries reported.
The cause remains under investigation; HMM said it is unclear whether the blast was an external attack or internal malfunction.
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran fired at a South Korean cargo ship; the US has launched Project Freedom to escort vessels through the strait.
The vessel is expected to be towed to Dubai over the coming days.
A fire that erupted following an explosion aboard the HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by South Korea's HMM Co., in the Strait of Hormuz has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported among the 24 crew members on board, the company confirmed on Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
How the Incident Unfolded
The explosion occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korean Standard Time), while the HMM Namu was anchored in waters off the United Arab Emirates. The fire originated in the vessel's engine room, and crew members deployed carbon dioxide to battle the blaze over a period of roughly four hours before bringing it under control.
HMM said security camera footage confirmed the fire had been extinguished. The company added that it would conduct a full inspection of the engine room to assess the extent of the damage once conditions allow.
Crew Composition and Safety
The HMM Namu had 24 crew members on board at the time of the incident — six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals. HMM confirmed that no one sustained injuries. The freighter is now expected to be towed to Dubai, a process the company said could take several days.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the explosion and fire remains under active investigation.
Point of View
And the tow to Dubai will take days through waters where the rules of engagement are, at best, ambiguous. If Trump's Iran claim holds, this stops being a maritime incident and becomes a casus belli question that Seoul cannot answer alone.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz?
The HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by South Korea's HMM Co., suffered an explosion and subsequent engine room fire while anchored off the UAE coast in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, 5 May 2025. The fire was extinguished after approximately four hours, and all 24 crew members are safe.
Was the HMM Namu explosion an attack or an accident?
The cause remains under investigation. An HMM official said it is currently unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction. US President Donald Trump has claimed Iran fired at a South Korean cargo ship, but HMM has not confirmed this.
How many crew were on board and were there any casualties?
There were 24 crew members on board — six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals. HMM confirmed no one was injured in the incident.
What is Project Freedom and how does it relate to this incident?
Project Freedom is a US-led operation launched this week to guide commercial vessels stranded by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran out of the Strait of Hormuz. The HMM Namu incident occurred amid this broader operation, and President Trump has urged South Korea to participate in reopening the waterway.
What happens next to the HMM Namu?
HMM plans to tow the HMM Namu to Dubai, a process expected to take several days. The company will also inspect the engine room to assess the damage once it is safe to do so.
