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Phone Distraction Causes Ferry to Run Aground
20 Nov
Summary
- A ferry ran aground due to a helmsman distracted by his mobile phone.
- All 267 passengers and crew were safely rescued from the vessel.
- Criminal charges are planned against the crew member responsible for steering.
A passenger ferry ran aground off South Korea's southwestern coast when the helmsman's attention was diverted by his mobile phone. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening as the vessel traveled from Jeju Island to Mokpo. The crew member reportedly allowed autopilot to take control in an area requiring manual operation, causing the ferry to miss its course and strike an uninhabited island.
Fortunately, all 267 passengers and crew members were safely brought to a nearby port. While most passengers were unharmed, 27 individuals were taken to a hospital for minor injuries such as headaches and back pain. The ferry itself was later brought to Mokpo's port in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Korea Coast Guard has deemed the event clear negligence and plans to press criminal charges against the responsible individual. This incident serves as a stark reminder of maritime safety protocols, especially in light of South Korea's worst maritime disaster in 2014 involving the sinking of a ferry with significant loss of life.
