A man stands in the water, appearing to fish, as bulk carriers, cargo ships, and service vessels line the horizon in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, April 27. (AP-Yonhap)
A man stands in the water, appearing to fish, as bulk carriers, cargo ships, and service vessels line the horizon in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, April 27. (AP-Yonhap)

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company caught fire following an explosion while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz late Monday, according to government officials. No casualties were reported.

The vessel, identified as HMM Namu, was anchored outside the port limits of Umm Al Quwain when the incident occurred at around 8:40 p.m., authorities said. The ship had 24 crew members on board, including six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said an explosion was observed on the port side of the engine room, with information relayed from a nearby vessel. The ship is currently on standby, with all crew confirmed safe as of around 9 p.m.

The authorities are investigating whether the damage was caused by an attack or a drifting sea mine, the ministry added.

The Foreign Ministry said it is also working to confirm details through its consular channels.

“At this stage, there are no reports of harm to South Korean nationals,” a ministry official said around 10 p.m. adding that further information will be released once the situation is fully assessed.

Relevant agencies, including the Defense Ministry and the Coast Guard, have been notified as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, where several vessels linked to South Korea remain stranded due to ongoing regional instability.


mkjung@heraldcorp.com