On the afternoon of May 4, the bulk carrier “HMM Namu,” operated by South Korea's HMM, suddenly exploded and caught fire while anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates. There were 24 crew members on board, including six South Koreans; fortunately, no one was injured.

The ship, which flies the Panamanian flag, was built just this year and has a deadweight tonnage of 38,000 tons, making it a relatively new vessel. The explosion occurred near the port side of the engine room; safety authorities have speculated that it may have been caused by an unmanned vessel or a floating mine.

On the same day, Iran announced the establishment of a new maritime control zone in the Strait of Hormuz—extending from Mount Mubarak to the south of Fujairah, and then between Qeshm Island and Um Qaywan.

This marks the third attack in 24 hours. The previous day, an oil tanker was reportedly attacked by a drone north of Fujairah, followed by a bulk carrier being surrounded by multiple small boats west of Sirik, Iran.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation, but the Strait of Hormuz is clearly far from calm—this vital waterway remains turbulent.