Mokpo Coast Guard Launches SOS Emergency Signal Pressing Campaign

SOS Button Sends Vessel Location and Name Instantly
Coast Guard Conducts Campaign to Raise Awareness of Emergency Procedures

Mokpo Coast Guard (Chief Kwon Oseong) announced that on the 13th and 14th, they visited the Mokpo Fishing Vessel Safety Operation Bureau and conducted an SOS distress signal button campaign for about 70 fishermen.

This training was carried out to prevent maritime accidents and raise awareness in accordance with the 'Special Maritime Safety Alert,' with a particular focus on the campaign to press the SOS distress button on the fishing vessel position transmitter in case of emergencies at sea.

Mokpo Coast Guard is conducting a campaign to encourage fishermen to press the SOS rescue button. Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station

This campaign is being promoted by the Coast Guard because there have been frequent cases where, in emergency situations at sea, people are too flustered to press the distress button installed on various communication devices, resulting in delayed rescue operations. When the distress button is pressed, the system immediately transmits the vessel's location and name to the control center and the relevant local police station.

On the 10th, the Coast Guard also visited the Gangjin Branch of the Marine and Fisheries Science Institute and provided safety training, including how to send distress signals and procedures for entering and leaving port, to about 20 prospective returnees to fishing who were attending the Return to Fishing School.

One fisherman who participated in the training said, "As I learned from the Coast Guard, if an emergency occurs, I will press the SOS button without hesitation."

Meanwhile, Mokpo Coast Guard conducted SOS distress button training and promotion last year for 7,725 fishing vessels equipped with distress signal transmitters in their jurisdiction.