Jeju Coast Guard, Special Crackdown on Maritime Drunk Driving During Summer

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] The Jeju Regional Coast Guard Office (Chief Kim Inchang) announced on the 10th that it will conduct a special crackdown on drunk navigation focusing on major ports and coastal waters in the province until the end of next month.

This crackdown was prepared to prevent maritime accidents as the number of tourists visiting Jeju during the upcoming summer peak season is expected to increase and marine leisure activity participants are gradually rising.

The Jeju Coast Guard will have a promotion and guidance period until the 30th of this month through banners, electronic display boards, and safety text messages, and then conduct a special crackdown on drunk navigation targeting fishing boats, passenger and cargo ships, fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, and water leisure equipment for one month next month.

In the past three years, the number of cases caught for drunk navigation in the jurisdiction was 30, with 4 accidents caused by alcohol. On the 1st of this month, a captain operating a vessel while intoxicated near Hankyeong-myeon, Jeju City, was caught, indicating that drunk navigation at sea is continuously occurring.

The Jeju Coast Guard is conducting joint crackdowns linking sea and land operations through patrol vessels, police substations, control rooms, and VTS as part of proactive administration to strengthen preemptive enforcement activities to prevent various maritime accidents caused by drunk navigation.

They plan to fully utilize available equipment such as V-PASS and radar to intensively monitor the navigation status of all vessels passing through nearby waters.

In addition, patrols will be strengthened not only during specific times when vessel departures and arrivals are concentrated but also during vulnerable times such as early morning, conducting focused enforcement activities. If caught in the drunk navigation crackdown (blood alcohol concentration of 0.03% or higher), strict punishment will be imposed according to established procedures under a zero-tolerance policy.

A Jeju Coast Guard official said, “Drunk navigation at sea is a dangerous act that can cause various maritime accidents and causes great harm not only to oneself but also to others. We will strive to establish a marine safety culture through this special crackdown to make Jeju’s seas safe.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil panax33@asiae.co.kr

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