A devastating maritime accident off the coast of South Korea has left three fishermen dead and sparked a comprehensive investigation into potential safety violations and crew recruitment practices. the incident, which unfolded near Gageo Island on Saturday, January 4th, involved a 9.7-ton fishing vessel carrying 22 crew members.
According to the Mokpo Coast Guard,the boat struck rocks around 10:27 a.m., resulting in the tragic loss of life. Three crew members suffered cardiac arrest and died despite being rushed to a nearby hospital. The remaining 19 crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard and nearby vessels after abandoning ship.
The Coast Guard’s investigation is focusing on several key areas. “We need to investigate whether there were any violations of the law in the process of recruiting crew members,” stated a Mokpo Coast Guard official. The official further noted, “Since a fatal accident occurred, we are also considering filing a charge of manslaughter against the captain.”
Investigators are notably interested in the discrepancies surrounding the crew manifest.The initial count of crew members varied, reported as 21, then 23, and finally settling on 22. Authorities are verifying the identities of the crew against pre-departure manifests to determine if any irregularities occurred.
Adding to the complexity of the investigation, the Coast Guard believes that most of the crew, excluding the captain, were not previously acquainted. The agency is working to determine how such a diverse group came to be aboard the vessel together.
This tragic event underscores the importance of rigorous safety standards and transparent crew recruitment practices within the fishing industry.The investigation’s findings will likely have significant implications for maritime safety regulations in South Korea and could serve as a cautionary tale for similar industries globally.
on Saturday,January 4th,a 9.7-ton fishing vessel carrying 22 crew members struck rocks near Gageo Island in South Korea. [[No source]] Three crew members suffered cardiac arrest and died despite being rushed to a nearby hospital. The remaining 19 crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard and nearby vessels after abandoning ship. [[No source]]
The Mokpo Coast Guard is investigating potential safety violations and crew recruitment practices. [[No source]] Authorities are looking into discrepancies surrounding the crew manifest and are verifying the identities of the crew. [[no source]]
The Coast guard believes that most of the crew, excluding the captain, were not previously acquainted and is working to determine how such a diverse group came to be aboard the vessel together.[[No source]] The investigation’s findings are expected to have implications for maritime safety regulations in South Korea. [[No source]]
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