HMM's Damaged Bulk Carrier Namu Set to Leave Strait of Hormuz in July

South Korea's Oceans Ministry said on Wednesday that the bulk carrier Namu, operated by shipping group HMM, is expected to leave the Strait of Hormuz in mid-July at the earliest, once repairs to damage sustained in a May attack are completed.

The vessel's hull was struck near the stern in the incident. On May 27, Seoul said the strike probably involved an Iranian anti-ship missile, summoning Tehran's ambassador to present the findings of its investigation and lodge a formal protest.

Iran's ambassador to South Korea, Saeed Koozechi, denied any involvement by Tehran, according to the Yonhap news agency. South Korea later acknowledged it could not conclusively determine who was responsible or whether the attack was intentional.

Vice Oceans Minister Nam Jae-heon told a briefing that two vessels, including the Namu, remain in the strait with 35 crew members aboard. He said 21 South Korean-operated ships had passed safely through the waterway since Washington and Tehran signed a ceasefire two weeks earlier.

HMM is covering the cost of the repairs, a ministry official said. A company spokesperson confirmed it was paying and would file a claim with its insurer. Asked whether Seoul would seek reimbursement from Iran or the United States, Nam said the government might review the matter later without elaborating.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments, has been a flashpoint of tension. Iran closed the passage after US and Israeli strikes, sending oil prices sharply higher and raising fears about the impact on the world economy before the ceasefire eased traffic.

For HMM, the departure of the Namu marks a step toward resolving a costly and diplomatically sensitive episode, even as questions over accountability and safe passage through the strategic waterway remain unresolved.