'HMM Namu' Joint Investigation Enters Second Day... External Attack? Internal Defect?

Yonhap News [Financial News] A joint investigation into the HMM bulk carrier 'HMM NAMU,' which experienced an explosion and fire accident near the Strait of Hormuz, is continuing for a second day. Investigating authorities are investigating the cause while keeping open the possibility of both external attacks and internal defects.
According to industry sources on the 9th, an investigation team composed of investigators from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and forensic experts from the Fire Department is currently investigating the cause of the accident aboard the NAMU, which has been towed to the Port of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The NAMU has been moved to 'Dry Dock World Dubai,' the largest repair shipyard in the Middle East, to determine the cause of the accident and to inspect and repair the hull. Officials from the local branch of the Korean Register of Shipping and HMM are also participating in the investigation.
The investigation team has entered the engine room where the fire occurred and is verifying the circumstances of the accident by securing CCTV footage, Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) records, and crew statements. It is reported that authorities are focusing particularly on the circumstances of the fire's outbreak at the time of the accident and whether there was any external impact.
So far, no holes in the exterior of the hull or flooding damage have been confirmed. However, there are observations that the fact that a significant portion of the fire scene inside the engine room has been preserved will aid in determining the cause of the fire.
However, given the nature of ship fires, there is a high possibility that major equipment and electrical systems were damaged by the initial high heat and flames, so it is expected to take time to pinpoint the exact point of origin. Analysis from within and outside the shipping industry suggests that while the possibility of an external attack is being raised amidst tensions in the Middle East, the possibility of internal factors, such as mechanical defects, cannot be ruled out.
All crew members disembarked after completing their investigations the previous day. An HMM official stated, "The crew members have currently disembarked," adding, "The schedule for additional investigations on the 9th has not yet been determined.
" Previously, at approximately 8:40 PM (KST) on the 4th, a fire caused by an explosion occurred on the port side of the engine room of the Namuho, which was anchored in the inner waters of the Strait of Hormuz north of Sharjah, UAE. At the time, there were a total of 24 people on board the ship, including 6 Korean crew members and 18 foreign crew members, and there were no casualties.
en1302@fnnews.com Jang In-seo Reporter