On January 4 at 8:40 p.m. KST, the HMM NAMU, a multipurpose cargo ship operated by South Korean firm HMM, suffered an explosion and fire in its engine room while anchored near Umm Al-Quwain, UAE, in the Strait of Hormuz. Although no casualties or flooding occurred, the vessel lost self-propulsion and is awaiting a tugboat to be moved to Dubai for a formal investigation. Former U.S. President Donald Trump initially suggested Iranian involvement, though he later stated the incident remains under investigation. While Iran has not claimed responsibility, the event coincided with regional drone strikes. HMM has relocated other nearby vessels for safety, and the National Maritime Union has urged the South Korean government to prioritize the protection of crew members amid rising regional instability.