Capsized off Seonmido Island

Photo: segye.com

On the afternoon of December 19, a 7.9 fishing vessel (name not disclosed) capsized in the Yellow Sea 13 kilometers north of Seonmido Island, Deokjeok-myeon, South Korea. Reports state the vessel had 5 crew members on board when it rolled over.  Four of the 5 crew were rescued by a nearby vessel with one sustaining a head injury. The South Korean Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter which airlifted the injured crew member back to shore for medical treatment.

The Coast Guard launched a search and rescue operation for the missing crew member. Deploying several patrol boats, a hovercraft and aircraft to search the areas around were the fishing vessel had capsized. The cause of the capsizing was not disclosed.

Capsized off Cheonlipo

Capsized off Cheonlipo
Photo; chosun.com

On the evening of December 4, a 9.77 ton fishing vessel (name not disclosed) capsized in the Yellow Sea some 2.5 kilometers northwest of Cheonlipo, Taean, South Korea. The gillnet fishing vessel with 7 crew onboard was involved in catching oysters, flounder and clams when the vessel capsized. The Coast Guard was alerted to the incident and dispatched  six patrol ships, one coastal rescue boat, and a Coast Guard rescue team to the search the area. Three of the crew would be later rescued during the search and rescue. The survivors suffered from hypothermia and were taken ashore and later taken to hospital.

Later that night, the Coast Guard would find the body of another crew member along the shoreline near Cheonlipo. The crew member had suffered cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.  The search for the 3 remaining crew members was hampered from strong winds and waves reaching 3 meters high.  The Coast Guard continued the search for several days.  By December 6, the bodies of all 3 missing crew members would be recovered. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

 

Collision off Patseom Island

Collision off Patseom Island
Photo: kukinews.com

On the morning of December 2, a 15 ton fishing vessel (name not disclosed) collided with a 5 ton fishing vessel (name not disclosed) in the Sea of Japan some 0.5 nautical miles southeast of Patseom Island, Namhae-gun, South Korea. Reports state the the 15 ton vessel had departed from Mizonam en route to Shinsu when it failed to spot the smaller fishing vessel. The South Korean Coast Guard was alerted and dispatched a patrol vessel to the scene. The Coast Guard would take 2 of the 7 persons off the 5 ton vessel as they had sustained chest and shoulder pain. Both were transported to the port of Mijo where they were taken by ambulance to hospital.  The were no reports of injuries among the 5 crew on the 15 ton fishing vessel.

Both vessels were able to proceed under their own power back to port.  Authorities had both masters of the fishing vessel tested for alcohol which returned negative results. The incident is under investigation.  The extent of damage caused by the collision was not disclosed.