South Korean Team Continues Investigation Into Fire on HMM Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz

A South Korean government team continued its investigation Saturday into the cause of a fire aboard a cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping firm HMM while the vessel was stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said. The HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by HMM, arrived at Drydocks World Dubai, the Middle East's largest ship repair yard, early Friday local time.

It has since been undergoing inspection by the government investigation team. The seven-member team comprises three investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four experts from the National Fire Agency. The group has been reviewing voyage data recorder and closed-circuit television footage as well as testimony from crew members, officials said.

Twenty-five sailors, including six South Koreans, disembarked from the ship following in-person questioning by the government team on Friday. They moved to an accommodation facility in Dubai.

Fire Occurred on Day of New U.S.

That was the same day the United States launched "Project Freedom" to help stranded vessels navigate through the waterway amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The incident has produced conflicting claims over whether the fire resulted from an Iranian attack or an internal malfunction.

Officials have not released a determination on the fire's cause. The government team is expected to continue its review of evidence in Dubai in the coming days.