At about 9:16 a.m. on the 4th, authorities received a report that fishing vessel ㄱ호, a 24-ton boat registered in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, had run aground about 100 meters south of Chagwido, in Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City. There were 11 people on board—four South Koreans and seven foreign nationals—and all were safe. Everyone on board was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

The Coast Guard confirmed that about one-third of the front of the boat was resting on a reef. After the water level rose, another 29-ton fishing boat was used to free ㄱ호 from the reef at about 2:54 p.m. About 40 centimeters of the boat’s bottom was damaged, but there was no flooding, and ㄱ호 sailed under its own power into Hallim Port.

Background and context

The captain was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. The Coast Guard is investigating the exact circumstances based on the captain’s statement that he had been operating the boat while drowsy. Thus, what has been established so far is that the captain made this statement and that an investigation is underway; drowsy operation has not been confirmed as the definitive cause.

The accident was resolved without injuries, but the fishing boat struck a reef and its hull was damaged. Both facts should be considered: everyone on board was wearing a life jacket and was safe, and the boat ran aground and sustained damage. A fortunate outcome does not mean the danger of drowsiness while sailing was minor.

What this news means

The incident highlights the importance of basic safety precautions for crew members, such as wearing life jackets. It is a confirmed fact that everyone on board was wearing one, but that alone does not establish why there were no injuries. The damage to the bottom of the boat, however, makes clear that a grounding can damage a vessel even when no one is hurt.

For captains and those responsible for operating vessels, the incident underscores that getting enough rest before departure and managing fatigue while underway are part of making safe decisions. Song Sang-hyeon, head of the Search and Rescue Division at the Jeju Coast Guard Station (제주해양경찰서), urged operators to get enough rest before setting out and to stop sailing and rest if they feel drowsy or tired while underway. For example, if an operator feels drowsy while sailing, the safety principle highlighted by this accident is to heed that advice and stop to rest rather than press on.

What is confirmed and what remains unknown

Confirmed facts

  • At about 9:16 a.m. on the 4th, fishing vessel ㄱ호, a 24-ton boat, ran aground about 100 meters south of Chagwido.
  • All 11 people on board—four South Koreans and seven foreign nationals—were safe, and they were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.
  • The Coast Guard confirmed that about one-third of the front of the boat was resting on a reef.
  • ㄱ호 was freed from the reef at about 2:54 p.m. About 40 centimeters of its bottom was damaged, but it entered Hallim Port without flooding.
  • The captain was not intoxicated, and the Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances based on the captain’s statement that he had been operating the boat while drowsy.

What remains unknown

  • What cause of the accident will the Coast Guard ultimately establish through its investigation?
  • How long had the captain been operating the boat before the accident, and had he rested enough?

What readers can check

  • If operating a fishing boat, make sure you have rested enough before departure and check that everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
  • Remember the Coast Guard’s advice: if you feel drowsy or tired while underway, do not press on; stop and rest.
  • Since the cause of this accident is still under investigation, check the results of the follow-up investigation to see whether reports are presenting drowsy operation as a confirmed fact.