Seogwipo Coast Guard Catches Drunk-Driving Vessel Near Beomseom Sea Area

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] At around 1:07 a.m. on the 23rd, the captain (male, in his 50s) of vessel A (41t, coastal longline fishing) was caught for drunk navigation 5.5 km southeast off Beomseom, Beophwan-dong, Seogwipo City.

The Seogwipo Coast Guard received a report suspecting drunk navigation and dispatched a patrol ship to the scene. They found vessel A navigating southeast of Beomseom and conducted a breathalyzer test on the captain, confirming a blood alcohol concentration of 0.065%, leading to his apprehension.

According to the Maritime Safety Act, the drunk navigation enforcement standard is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03%. For vessels over 5 tons, if the BAC is between 0.03% and 0.08%, the offender faces imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

A Seogwipo Coast Guard official stated, "Drunk navigation at sea can lead to major accidents, and the act itself is a serious crime, so people must be vigilant."

Meanwhile, the total number of drunk navigation enforcement cases in the Seogwipo Coast Guard jurisdiction this year is two.

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil panax33@asiae.co.kr