A bulk carrier operated by South Korean shipping company HMM was damaged when two unidentified objects struck its stern in the Strait of Hormuz on 4 May, according to South Korea's foreign ministry.
The vessel, the HMM Namu, had been anchored near the United Arab Emirates when the incident occurred. No crew members were harmed.
The objects hit the left side of the stern at around 3.30pm local time, causing a fire that damaged an area measuring seven by five metres, said ministry spokesperson Park Il. He added that the objects were captured on surveillance camera, but their nature remains uncertain.
Investigators ruled out a sea mine or any internal mechanical issues as the cause. 'We assume the cause of the fire was irrelevant to internal issues on the ship,' Park said. Debris will be collected for analysis.
This was the second incident involving the HMM Namu in the strait in a week. Earlier, a blast and fire had been reported, which US President Donald Trump attributed to an Iranian attack. Iran has denied any responsibility.
South Korea is in contact with relevant countries, including Iran, regarding the investigation. The vessel was towed to Dubai for inspection after the earlier blaze.
