'Ultimately, It Was Human Error'... Ferry Officer Distracted by Phone Causes Grounding

[Financial News] The Queen Zenubia 2, a large 26,000-ton passenger ferry carrying 267 people, ran aground after striking an uninhabited island off the coast of Jangsan-do, Sinan County, South Jeolla Province. According to the initial investigation by the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), the accident occurred because the officer on watch was distracted by his mobile phone.
On the 20th, authorities reported that the KCG’s preliminary investigation of the main crew of the Queen Zenubia 2 found that the collision with the uninhabited island occurred after the vessel was switched to autopilot mode in a narrow channel.
Investigations revealed that First Mate A, who was in charge of steering at the time, left the vessel on autopilot in a section that required manual navigation because he was looking at his mobile phone. As a result, the ship missed the timing for a course change and crashed into the uninhabited island, causing about half of the hull to become stranded.
First Mate A was on duty at the time of the incident, while the captain was reportedly temporarily absent from the bridge.
It was also First Mate A who first reported the Queen Zenubia 2 grounding to the KCG via the Vessel Traffic Service Center (VTS Center).

The waters near Jangsan-do in Sinan County, where the accident occurred, are a narrow channel crowded with coastal ferry routes. Due to the need for extra caution, vessels typically rely on manual navigation rather than autopilot in this area.
As operational negligence has been confirmed, the KCG plans to pursue criminal charges against those responsible.
The Queen Zenubia 2 departed Jeju Island for Mokpo at 4:45 p.m. on the 19th, carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members, totaling 267 people. The accident occurred at 8:16 p.m. that same day, with about half of the vessel becoming stranded atop Jokdo, an uninhabited island near Jangsan-do, Sinan County.
Twenty-seven passengers who complained of pain from the impact were transported to hospitals, but none suffered serious injuries.
[email protected] Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter