On the morning of the 20th, the 26,000-ton passenger ship Queen Zenobia 2 is docked at Samhak Pier in Mokpo City, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Three individuals, including the captain and those responsible for a passenger ship that ran aground on an uninhabited island due to negligence, have been indicted and taken into custody.
The Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office announced on the 23rd that it had detained and indicted three people, including Captain A (65) of the large car ferry passenger ship Queen Zenobia 2, on charges including gross negligence resulting in injury, after the vessel ran aground and injured passengers.
They are accused of failing to maintain even minimal forward lookout while sailing off the coast of Sinan County, Jeollanam-do, on the 19th of last month, leading to the ship running aground after colliding with Jukdo, an uninhabited island. As a result of the accident, 47 out of the 267 people on board reported mild pain and received hospital treatment.
It was revealed that Captain A failed to directly supervise or operate the ship in a hazardous area where the captain is required to take direct control, and did not even monitor the navigation equipment from the captain’s cabin.
First mate B (39), who was in charge of navigation in the wheelhouse, and helmsman C (39), were found to have neglected forward lookout, instead using their mobile phones and engaging in other distractions.
As a result, they did not realize the ship was approaching the uninhabited island at full speed until just before the collision.
A prosecutor stated, "This was a man-made disaster that could have been prevented if even one person had been watching ahead," adding, "The prosecution will continue to thoroughly investigate the causes of safety accidents that pose significant risks to the public."
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