Dozing Off While Steering... 29t Fishing Boat Collides with 60,000t Drillship Near Jisimdo

The bow of the fishing vessel was damaged due to the impact of the accident.
[Photo by Changwon Maritime Police Station]

In the early morning of the 26th, a 29-ton fishing vessel collided with a 60,000-ton Panama drilling rig off Jisimdo Island, Geoje City, Gyeongnam Province.

According to the Changwon Coast Guard, a report was received around 2:17 a.m. that the fishing vessel A appeared to have collided.

Vessel A had departed from Wando, Jeonnam on the 22nd, and while returning to Busan after completing fishing operations, it collided with the drilling rig due to drowsy navigation, failing to notice the rig in time.

The drilling rig involved in the collision with the fishing vessel. [Photo by Changwon Maritime Police Station]

Upon receiving the report, the Changwon Coast Guard dispatched patrol ships, rescue teams, and the Jangseungpo Police Station coastal rescue boat to the accident site, rescuing all seven people on board the fishing vessel and moving the ship to a nearby port.

The collision occurred between the bow of vessel A and the stern of the drilling rig, causing some damage to the hull, but no casualties were reported.

There was no marine pollution such as ship flooding or oil spills.

A Changwon Coast Guard official stated, “At sea, dangers can arise unexpectedly, so accidents caused by drowsy navigation or carelessness due to safety complacency are highly likely,” adding, “When navigating at night, it is important to use radar and navigation equipment to prevent accidents and to be cautious not to operate the vessel while drowsy.”

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