Jeju Coast Guard, Free Safety Inspection Service for Powered Water Leisure Vehicles Conducted

Published 14 Mar.2023 10:46(KST)

The Jeju Regional Coast Guard Office (Chief Kim Inchang) announced on the 14th that starting next month, it will provide a free on-site safety inspection service for individual water leisure activity participants at major powered water leisure craft departure and arrival points within Jeju Island.

Jeju Coast Guard will provide a free on-site safety inspection service for individual water leisure activity participants at powered water leisure craft entry and exit points starting next month.
[Photo by Jeju Coast Guard]

Most powered water leisure craft owned by individual water leisure activity participants are stored on land (private storage) and are only used during the peak season (April to October). Since they rely on a five-year periodic safety inspection, the equipment is often neglected or overlooked, leading to frequent breakdown accidents.

In spring, some users enjoy leisure activities at sea without inspecting the equipment that was unused during the winter, resulting in drifting and rescue due to simple malfunctions. Among these cases, some lead to secondary accidents such as collisions with other vessels or grounding on reefs.

This inspection service, organized by the local Coast Guard stations, is conducted with experts from the Korea Maritime Safety Authority (KOMSA), repair companies, and other relevant fields to perform comprehensive safety checks on the equipment, including the operating agency and basic equipment condition.

Owners of powered water leisure craft who wish to use the service can make a prior reservation by phone at the nearest Coast Guard station and then visit the designated location.

The Jeju Coast Guard Office will conduct the personal water leisure craft safety inspection service at least twice a year during the peak season (April to October), along with promotional campaigns to raise safety awareness among participants in fishing and leisure activities.

A representative of the Jeju Coast Guard Office stated, “Powered water leisure craft have smaller hulls and are relatively vulnerable to safety compared to general vessels, so equipment inspection before departure is essential as drifting accidents can lead to casualties due to collisions or capsizing.”

He added, “We hope everyone applies for the powered water leisure craft safety inspection service to learn inspection methods and enjoy leisure activities safely by following safety rules before departure.”