Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
  2. 2

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  3. 3

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
  4. 4

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
  5. 5

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
  1. 6

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
  2. 7

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
  3. 8

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
  4. 9

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  5. 10

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
지나쌤

Korea vows measures to prevent boating accidents

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 19, 2017 - 14:43

    • Link copied

South Korea will establish wharves for rescue boats at all Coast Guard stations and set up a direct emergency call service to promptly save people in case of maritime emergencies, the oceans ministry said Tuesday.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a set of safety measures after a refueling ship collided with a chartered fishing boat in waters near the western port city of Incheon on Dec. 3, killing 15 people.

In response to criticism over the delayed rescue efforts, the ministry said it will establish wharves for all 96 Coast Guard stations to promptly dispatch rescue vessels in times of emergency. Currently, only 23 stations have wharves. 

Officers inspect a refueling vessel anchored at Incheon port on Dec. 5, 2017, after it hit a fishing boat, killing 15 people. (Yonhap) Officers inspect a refueling vessel anchored at Incheon port on Dec. 5, 2017, after it hit a fishing boat, killing 15 people. (Yonhap)

While calls for maritime accidents are currently directed to emergency numbers of the country's police and fire departments, the ministry plans to establish an independent calling system to receive reports related to ship accidents.

The government also will beef up rescue workers and diving equipment at Coast Guard stations and set up a special rescue team in Incheon and on the southern island of Jeju, in addition to the ones in Busan, Mokpo and Donghae, to handle large-scale marine accidents.

The latest boating accident was the worst tragedy involving a South Korean recreational fishing boat since a similar accident occurred in waters near Jeju Island in September 2015. Fifteen people were killed and three went missing due to the sinking. (Yonhap)

More from Headlines