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Tag: South Korea

Capsized off Gopado Island

Capsized off Gopado Island

Unnamed Ferry
Photo: Taean Maritime Police Station

On December 30, an 83 ton unnamed ferry capsized in the Garorim Bay off  Gopado Island near Seosan, South Korea. The ferry had departed from Udo with 7 crew when it lost stability and rolled over.

South Korean Coast Guard arrived on scene and found two of the crew in the water.  Divers searched the overturned vessel and found the master of the ferry in one of the interior spaces. He had suffered cardiac arrest and later pronounced deceased.

Coast Guard along with the Taean Maritime Police deployed 20 vessels and 5 helicopters searching for the four remaining missing crew. Reports state the search was difficult due to strong currents, wind and the rising tide. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.

Unnamed Ferry
Photo: yna.co.kr

 

Geungwang

Geungwang

Geungwang
Photo: Korea Coast Guard

On the morning of December 9, the 29 tonne fishing vessel Geungwang collided with a 456 tonne barge in the Sea of Japan six kilometers off the coast of Gyeongju, South Korea. The Geungwang capsized after the collision trapping the eight crew on board. The Korea Coast Guard was alerted and dispatched 15 vessels and 6 helicopters to conduct a search and rescue operation. Divers were deployed and found seven persons inside the overturned fishing vessel. They would be recovered and taken to hospital where they were pronounced deceased. One member of the Geungwang crew is still reported as missing. Reports state there were no injures among the 10 crew onboard the barge. No further details reported.

Geumseong 135

Geumseong 135

Geumseong 135
Photo: Korea Coast Guard

On the early morning hours of November 8, the 36.67 meter long, 129 ton fishing vessel Geumseong 135 (IMO: 8916592) sank in the Korea Strait near Jeju Island, South Korea. The Geumseong 135 had been hauling in its catch when it lost stability, rolled over and sunk. A few minutes after the vessel sank, the Coast Guard received an alert and quickly responded. The Coast Guard deployed 14 patrol vessels and 4 helicopters to search for survivors. The Coast Guard had requested additional vessels and aircraft to assisted in the search.  Rescuers found 15 of the 27 of the Geumseong 135 crew. Two of the crew rescued were found in cardiac arrest and were later declared deceased.

Over the following days, the Coast Guard recovered two additional bodies from the sea with 10 crew still missing. An oil sheen was visible over the wreck which rests in a depth of 80 to 90 meters.

Reports state the reason the Geumseong 135 lost stability due to the size of the catch in the net was 3 to 5 times greater than normally be caught. The incident is under investigation.