Yeosu Coast Guard Cracks Down Even if Passengers Drink Alcohol

Not only Captain's Drunk Driving but Also Passenger Drinking Behavior Subject to Crackdown

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] The Yeosu Maritime Police Station in Jeollanam-do is launching a special crackdown on drunk navigation due to the increase in leisure equipment users and passengers on multi-use vessels during the summer peak season.

According to Yeosu Maritime Police, on the 1st, a 0.9-ton motorboat operator was caught navigating under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.230% near Dolsan Bridge in Yeosu, and on the 2nd, a passenger on a fishing boat near Sorido was caught drinking alcohol inside the vessel.

Last year, a total of 15 cases of drunk navigation were detected in the Yeosu area, with 5 cases concentrated in July and August, the summer months.

Accordingly, as the number of people visiting the sea during the summer vacation season increases, Yeosu Maritime Police plans to conduct a focused crackdown on drunk navigation from August 12 to 16, following a five-day guidance period starting August 7, to prevent maritime accidents.

This special crackdown will target all vessels including multi-use ships, fishing boats, and leisure equipment. Suspicious vessels will be selected and intensively monitored through coordination between police substations, patrol vessels, and the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) center on sea and land.

A Yeosu Maritime Police official stated, “Not only maritime workers but also passengers on fishing boats, passenger ferries, and ferries who drink alcohol inside the vessel will be fined regardless of the blood alcohol level,” adding, “To prevent safety accidents, drinking on board must not be allowed.”

However, passengers on registered passenger ferries allowed to sell alcohol onboard under the Tourism Promotion Act are exempted.

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek simkt7@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.