"Unlike the Sinking of MV Sewol" — Passenger Ferry with 267 Aboard Runs Aground, All Rescued

A large passenger ferry ran aground off the coast of Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, but thanks to an orderly evacuation that prioritized children and the elderly, all passengers were safely rescued.
According to the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) and other authorities on the 20th, at around 8:16 p.m. on the 19th, the Queen Zenubia 2, which had departed Jeju for Mokpo, struck a rock and came to a halt near Sinan County. At the time of the accident, there were 246 passengers and 21 crew members on board, totaling 267 people.
Within about 20 minutes of the report, a high-speed patrol boat and the West Sea Special Rescue Team arrived at the scene and began rescue operations. Announcements were made on board to guide the evacuation of the elderly and children first. One passenger explained, "Those with children, pregnant women, and young people were told to board first, so we did. The announcement was made quickly."
Passengers calmly evacuated wearing life jackets, following the crew's instructions. The crew remained on the vessel until the rescue was complete and assisted in managing the situation. This stands in stark contrast to the Sinking of MV Sewol in 2014, where the captain and crew escaped first. The swift and responsible response is credited with preventing casualties.
The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) suspects that the accident was caused by navigational negligence. At a briefing on the 20th, Kim Yong-jin, Commissioner General of the KCG, stated, "Further investigation is needed into the cause of the grounding, but at present, we suspect negligence by the captain or the navigator." Chae Soo Joon, Chief of Mokpo Coast Guard, also noted that it is unusual for a large vessel to collide with an island, and that an investigation team is working to determine the cause.
The KCG plans to focus its investigation on whether pre-departure safety checks were conducted, the situation in the wheelhouse, autopilot settings, and the vessel's route. In addition, in consultation with the Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, authorities will assess the possibility of refloating the grounded vessel and consider deploying tugboats.


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter