South Korea Arrests Ferry Crew After Ship Runs Aground, All Passengers Safe

Post by : Saif

South Korean authorities have arrested two ferry crew members for suspected gross negligence after a ship ran aground near the southwestern port of Mokpo. The first officer and an Indonesian crew member were at the helm and are suspected of failing to act in time to override the autopilot, which allowed the vessel to hit an uninhabited island in a busy shipping channel. Fortunately, all 267 people on board were rescued safely, and no lives were in danger.

The ferry, operated by Seaworld, is a 26,546-tonne vessel with multiple decks for passengers and vehicles and a capacity of 1,010. The ship was traveling from the southern island of Jeju toward Mokpo at a regulated speed of 22 knots (40 kph) when it failed to make a turn in the narrow channel. Authorities noted that vessels in this area are usually steered manually due to the surrounding small islands and tight navigation routes.

The incident has reminded many South Koreans of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, in which more than 300 people, mostly students, lost their lives. While the current incident ended safely, it has reignited concerns about ferry safety and crew responsibility in South Korea.

A coast guard investigator in Mokpo, Kim Hwang-gyun, said the arrested crew members had given conflicting statements. In his initial testimony, the first officer admitted he was watching news on his phone at the time of the grounding. Investigators plan to review the crew members’ phones, the ship’s navigation data, and traffic control records for a thorough understanding of what went wrong.

While the ferry sustained only minor damage to its steel hull and scratches along the sides, authorities are focused on understanding how such a large vessel failed to change course in time. Several passengers received medical attention, but no serious injuries were reported. Officials confirmed that the crew was not intoxicated during the incident. The ferry was eventually towed to Mokpo port for further inspection.

The South Korean coast guard has made it clear that negligence will not be tolerated and is emphasizing the importance of careful navigation in narrow coastal areas. This incident may lead to stricter regulations and renewed training requirements for ferry crews to prevent similar accidents in the future.

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