Coast Guard Captures Chinese Boat Fleeing Over 1 Hour from Baengnyeongdo to Daecheongdo

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] A Chinese high-speed boat that illegally fished after crossing the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea was seized by the Coast Guard.

The West Sea 5 Islands Special Security Unit of the Central Coast Guard announced on the 10th that it, together with the Navy, apprehended one Chinese high-speed boat on charges of violating the Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act.

The boat is accused of illegally fishing after crossing about 13 km beyond the West Sea NLL at around 12 PM off the coast 54 km west of Daecheongdo, Ongjin-gun, Incheon. This 10-meter-long high-speed boat, equipped with three 300-horsepower outboard motors, fled for 1 hour and 20 minutes after the Coast Guard initiated a capture operation at a location 13 km west of Baengnyeongdo earlier that morning, before being caught.

The Coast Guard and Navy deployed patrol aircraft and 11 vessels to track the boat’s escape route, which can reach speeds up to 90 km/h. Subsequently, a 3,000-ton patrol ship on duty in the wide area blocked the boat’s path, and a high-speed launch was sent to seize it.

At the time of capture, the fishing boat had five Chinese crew members on board, including the Chinese captain, all of whom did not resist. Approximately 2 kg of miscellaneous fish caught by them were also found on the boat.

The Coast Guard plans to transfer the crew to the exclusive pier of the Incheon Coast Guard and investigate the details of the illegal fishing operation.

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