Coast Guard: "Major Disaster Averted"
Investigation Into Cause of Fire Underway
In the early morning of January 12, a fire broke out on a fishing vessel that had been anchored for an extended period off the coast near Noryeokdo, Jangheung County, Jeollanam-do.
The Wando Coast Guard announced that at approximately 4:36 a.m. that day, a fire occurred on the 6.67-ton aquaculture management vessel, identified as Vessel A, about 0.1 kilometers northwest of Noryeok Port in Jangheung County.
A fire broke out on a fishing vessel that had been anchored for a long time off the coast near Noryeokdo, Jangheung County, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Wando Coast Guard
An on-duty soldier at the Jeongnamjin outpost of the 2nd Coastal Surveillance Battalion spotted flames rising over the dark sea while performing coastal surveillance and immediately reported the fire to the Hoejin Police Substation, thereby alerting authorities to the incident.
Vessel A had been anchored near Noryeok Port for a long time and was mainly used for aquaculture management work. At the time of the fire, there were no crew members on board and no fuel was loaded, so there were no casualties. Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard immediately dispatched a patrol vessel, two coastal rescue boats, and Wando rescue personnel to carry out firefighting operations.
The fire scorched parts of Vessel A's wheelhouse and deck, and damaged the outer hull, but there was no secondary damage such as sinking or marine pollution. After completing safety measures, the Coast Guard towed Vessel A to the coast near Noryeokdo using a marine disaster rescue vessel.
A Wando Coast Guard official stated, "Prompt on-site response prevented further damage," and added, "We will do our utmost to ensure the safety management of vessels anchored at ports and harbors."
The Coast Guard is currently investigating the exact cause of the fire by interviewing witnesses and the vessel owner.
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