Towing preparations began Thursday morning to move the HMM bulk carrier Namuh to Dubai Port following a fire and explosion [1].
The operation is critical because the vessel is currently unable to navigate on its own due to extensive damage. Ensuring the ship reaches a secure port allows a government investigation team to determine the cause of the incident and prevents further maritime hazards in the region.
The Namuh, a medium-sized bulk carrier weighing 38,000 tons [1], had been stationed in waters near Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates after the accident in the Strait of Hormuz [1].
Local tugboats departed Dubai at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and arrived at the site of the accident at 3:30 a.m. Thursday [1]. Preparations to tow the vessel began at approximately 11 a.m. local time Thursday [1].
"Preparations to tow the Namuh to Dubai Port began around 11 a.m. today our time," said YTN reporter Son Hyo-jung [1].
The process of connecting the tugboats to the bulk carrier is expected to take between four and five hours [1]. Once the connection is secure, the vessel will be towed across a direct distance of approximately 70 kilometers to Dubai Port [1].
"Local tugboats departed Dubai around 8:30 p.m. yesterday and arrived at the accident area around 3:30 a.m. today," Son said [1].
Officials expect the Namuh to arrive at the port by early Friday morning [1].
“Towing preparations began Thursday morning to move the HMM bulk carrier Namuh to Dubai Port”
The movement of the Namuh to Dubai Port marks a transition from emergency stabilization to the formal investigation phase. By relocating the vessel from the vicinity of Umm Al Quwain, authorities can conduct a comprehensive forensic analysis of the fire and explosion in a controlled environment, which is essential for determining if the cause was mechanical failure or external interference in the volatile Strait of Hormuz region.
