Coast Guard Conducts Search and Seizure in Connection with Tugboat Sinking

[Financial News] The maritime police conducted a search and seizure operation in connection with the capsizing of the tugboat TNS Catcher off the coast of Busan on the 2nd.
Busan Maritime Police Station said on the 8th that it had conducted search and seizure operations at five entities, including shipping company A and association B, as well as the vessel being towed, in connection with the capsizing of TNS Catcher. Shortly after the accident, the maritime police assigned 41 investigators and formed an investigation headquarters. They plan to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident by analyzing evidence obtained through the search and seizure operations.
The accident began at 1:29 p.m. on the 2nd, when the 286-ton-class tugboat TNS Catcher capsized about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo Islets off Busan. Two people were rescued at the time. One Korean crew member, who was found unconscious inside the vessel and taken to a hospital, eventually died.
At the time, eight crew members were aboard TNS Catcher, including six Koreans and two Indonesians. Six people remain missing.
The maritime police have been searching the waters for a week. However, they have still found neither the missing persons nor any personal effects. Seven vessels were deployed in the early hours of the day for the search, but underwater operations could not be conducted because of worsening weather. The maritime police are conducting an intensive search of the accident area this afternoon using 15 vessels and seven aircraft.
[email protected] Baek Chang-hoon Reporter