Fire Aboard S. Korean Bulk Carrier in Strait of Hormuz Contained

(MENAFN) A fire that erupted following an onboard explosion on a bulk carrier operated by a major South Korean shipping company in the Strait of Hormuz has been brought under control, with no injuries among crew members, local media reported Tuesday.

The incident unfolded late Monday aboard the HMM Namu while the vessel was anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to South Korean media. The blaze broke out in the engine room, where crew members spent approximately four hours fighting the fire using the ship's carbon dioxide suppression systems before successfully extinguishing it.

All 24 people aboard — six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals — were confirmed safe.

An official with South Korea's HMM Co., the company that operates the carrier, said it remains unclear whether the incident stemmed from an external attack or an internal mechanical malfunction, with a formal investigation into the cause of the explosion still underway. The vessel is expected to be towed to Dubai for inspection and damage assessment.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed Monday that the fire broke out following an explosion on the Panama-flagged ship at approximately 8:40 pm South Korean time (1140 GMT), with authorities continuing to assess the full extent of the damage.

The incident adds to mounting tensions in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Twenty-six South Korean-flagged vessels remain stranded in the strait.

On Monday, Iranian state media alleged that two missiles struck a US Navy vessel near Jask Island in the Gulf of Oman — a claim the United States firmly and categorically denied.

The latest developments unfold against a volatile regional backdrop. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously warned that any vessels violating transit protocols issued by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz "will be forcefully stopped."

The current crisis was set in motion on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, while simultaneously closing the Strait of Hormuz. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strategically vital waterway.

A two-week ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation took effect on April 8, followed by direct talks in Islamabad on April 11–12, though negotiations failed to produce a lasting truce. US President Donald Trump subsequently extended the ceasefire without setting a new deadline, acting on a formal request from Pakistan.

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