Government Rescues Domestic Fishing Vessel Adrift in Japan-Korea Intermediate Waters

The national fishery guidance vessel Mugunghwa No. 1 is rescuing a domestic fishing boat drifting in the waters between Korea and Japan. [Photo by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries rescued a domestic fishing vessel drifting in the Korea-Japan intermediate waters.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries received a distress call from the 29-ton coastal gillnet vessel K, operating 110 nautical miles southeast of Ulleungdo, and dispatched a national fisheries patrol ship to safely rescue the fishing vessel and its 10 crew members. Currently, the national fisheries patrol ship is towing vessel K.

Vessel K departed from Guryongpo Port on the morning of the 7th and was fishing in the Korea-Japan intermediate waters when its rudder became inoperable, making navigation impossible. At around 11:20 a.m. that day, it requested rescue, and the East Sea Fisheries Management Unit dispatched the national fisheries patrol ship Mugunghwa 1, which was monitoring illegal fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Mugunghwa 1 rescued vessel K at around 12:40 p.m. and confirmed the safety of the crew and the vessel. Vessel K is scheduled to be handed over to the fleet at around 8 p.m. that day.

Jeon Woo-jin, head of the East Sea Fisheries Management Unit at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "When a fishing vessel drifts at sea, it can lead to secondary accidents such as grounding or collisions," and added, "Please ensure thorough inspections before departure and strive for safe navigation."

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