Renewed strikes leave ships ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz

May 6 ------ Renewed attacks on commercial vessels have heightened security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, with multiple ships reported ablaze.

One of the key incidents involved the cargo ship HMM Namu, which caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on 4 May. The fire was accompanied by an explosion in the engine room, though it remains unclear whether this resulted from an external attack or an internal mechanical issue.

Fortunately, all crew members were reported safe. South Korean authorities stated that the exact cause will be determined once the vessel is towed to port and a full damage assessment is conducted. The Panama-flagged ship, operated by South Korean company HMM, was reportedly empty and at anchor when the explosion and fire occurred.

In response, South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries advised vessels in the area to move to safer waters and confirmed it was in close contact with shipping companies and affected ships. As reported, the government also noted that 26 South Korean-flagged vessels were stranded near the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed via Truth Social that Iran had fired at the ship and other targets, coinciding with a U.S. operation aimed at ensuring the strait remained open to maritime traffic.

Separately, another vessel reportedly caught fire on 4 May approximately 14 nautical miles west of Mina Saqr in the UAE at 14:21 UTC, according to UKMTO, citing a third-party source. Ships in the vicinity were advised to keep a safe distance, and the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.

A day earlier, on 3 May, UKMTO confirmed an incident about 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, UAE, in which a tanker was struck by unidentified projectiles. Later, the United Arab Emirates stated that a national tanker operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had been hit by two Iranian drones while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as a “terrorist Iranian assault,” noting that no injuries were reported.

ADNOC confirmed that its crude oil tanker Barakah was involved in the incident off the coast of Oman, again emphasizing that all crew members were unharmed. The UAE called on Iran to cease such attacks, urging a halt to hostilities and the full, unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard regional security and global trade stability.

In addition, the State of Qatar issued a statement strongly condemning the attack on the ADNOC-operated tanker, describing it as a clear violation of international law, the principle of freedom of navigation, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026).

Source: safety4sea.com