South Korea to Probe HMM Ship Fire After Blast in Strait of Hormuz

A process is expected to move forward to determine the cause of a fire that broke out with an explosion aboard the HMM Namu, a vessel operated by South Korean shipping company HMM in the Strait of Hormuz.
 
Yonhap reported on May 5 that the Cheong Wa Dae said it plans to tow the ship to a nearby port and then dispatch personnel from the Dubai office of the Korean Register, investigators from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and forensic experts from the National Fire Agency to examine the cause.
 
When a ship cannot navigate under its own power after a fire at sea, it is typically moved to a nearby port by tugboat. The HMM Namu was believed to be unable to sail on its own due to the fire.
 
An emergency backup generator was operating, and food and drinking water were secured, so life aboard the ship was reported to be stable for the 24 crew members, including six South Koreans.
 
Once a tugboat is arranged, the HMM Namu is expected to head to Dubai Port. A full investigation is to begin after the ship berths there.
 
The Korean Register, the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and the National Fire Agency are among the agencies deployed to investigate the causes of maritime accidents. The Korean Register is a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies and conducts inspections and certification to ensure ship safety and quality.
 
The Central Maritime Safety Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries that determines the causes of maritime accidents and issues rulings. The National Fire Agency works with the tribunal on on-site examinations to identify the cause of ship fires.
 
If the incident is confirmed to have resulted from an Iranian attack, it is expected to carry significant diplomatic repercussions.