Passenger Ship Detained and Hostage Situation on the Open Sea... Sacheon Coast Guard Completes Counter-Terrorism Drill at Multi-Use Facility

A counter-terrorism drill for multi-use facilities was conducted at Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “Coast Guard? Several armed terrorists have taken over the Ocean Vista Jeju ship's wheelhouse!”

On the 27th, a multi-use facility anti-terrorism drill at Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon City, Gyeongnam, began with an urgent report call from a shipping company employee.

At around 2 p.m. that day, the captain of the Ocean Vista Jeju ship reported that terrorists had stormed the vessel, but is no longer answering calls.

The ship was carrying five crew members including the captain and about ten passengers.

A counter-terrorism drill at a multi-use facility held at Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam.

The Sacheon Coast Guard shared the reported terrorist situation with the Namhae Regional Coast Guard, the Gyeongnam branch of the National Intelligence Service, Sacheon Police Station, the 39th Division 118th Brigade 14th Coastal Surveillance Mobile Battalion, and others.

The UDT special forces, Sacheon Police Station, the 14th Coastal Surveillance Mobile Battalion, and standby vessels from Sacheon Coast Guard surrounded Samcheonpo Port and the detained ship.

Drones deployed by the Coast Guard patrolled the skies, and patrol vessels blocked the terrorists' escape routes.

Coastal rescue boats and rescue teams also approached nearby to prepare for emergencies, while some Coast Guard personnel guided other ships to detour to prevent them from approaching the scene.

Boarding a detained vessel during an anti-terrorism drill at a multi-use facility.

The on-site command center attempted negotiations urging the terrorists to surrender, but talks broke down, and the military and police narrowed the encirclement and moved to apprehend the suspects.

The military and police removed explosives planted by the terrorist suspects on the detained passenger ship, entered the wheelhouse, arrested the terrorists, and rescued the hostages.

Sacheon Coast Guard stated that through this drill, they reviewed the self-manual for multi-use facility anti-terrorism preparedness, checked their own response posture, and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation with related agencies and improvements for protecting important coastal facilities.

Ok Changmook, chief of Sacheon Coast Guard, said, “Through this joint maritime anti-terrorism drill, we will address shortcomings and establish a perfect preparedness posture against various maritime terrorism threats. We will strengthen our response capabilities by establishing an organic cooperation system with related agencies to protect the public.”