South Korean vessel damaged in Strait of Hormuz to be towed to Dubai

South Korean shipping company HMM Co. has chartered a vessel to tow its bulk carrier to the port of Dubai following an explosion and fire that caused damage to the ship, a company representative said.

The damaged Panama-flagged vessel is expected to reach a safe harbour by the afternoon of May 7 Seoul time, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

An investigation into the cause of the incident will begin once it arrives

The vessel, HMM Namu, was at anchor off the coast of the United Arab Emirates at the time of the incident. The company said the fire was extinguished, a fact confirmed by surveillance camera footage.

US President Donald Trump stated that the incident may have been caused by an Iranian attack. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry emphasised that the exact cause can only be determined after the vessel reaches port and undergoes a detailed inspection.

By Jeyhun Aghazada