Yeosu Coast Guard, Special Crackdown on Drunk Sailing During Year-End and New Year Period

Preventing Maritime Accidents... 22 Days Until the 6th of Next Month

The Yeosu Coast Guard Station (Chief Choi Kyung-geun) announced on the 13th that it will conduct a special crackdown on drunk navigation at sea to prevent maritime accidents caused by drunk driving during the year-end and New Year holidays.

The Yeosu Coast Guard will conduct a joint crackdown on drunk navigation at sea for 22 days from the 16th to January 6 of next year, following an advisory period until the 15th. The operation will involve police substations, patrol vessels, and the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) center.

Yeosu Coast Guard will conduct a special crackdown for 22 days from the 16th of this month to January 6th of next year in cooperation with police substations, patrol vessels, and the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) to prevent maritime accidents caused by drunk navigation during the year-end and New Year holidays. Photo by Yeosu Coast Guard

Over the past three years, the Yeosu Coast Guard has detected 39 cases of drunk navigation (11 cases in 2021, 14 cases in 2022, and 14 cases in 2023). However, this year, due to proactive guidance and preemptive preventive activities, the number of violations has significantly decreased to 3 cases, and no maritime accidents caused by drunk navigation have occurred.

This special crackdown targets all vessels, including fishing boats, passenger and freight ferries, fishing charter boats, passenger ships, and water leisure equipment, focusing on drunk or hangover navigation to prevent maritime accidents during the year-end and New Year holidays.

Drunk navigation of vessels is subject to enforcement if the blood alcohol concentration is 0.03% or higher. Depending on the degree of intoxication, offenders may face imprisonment from more than 2 years up to 5 years, or fines ranging from 20 million to 30 million KRW, and may also face suspension of duties or license revocation.

A Yeosu Coast Guard official stated, "Since alcohol impairs judgment and directly leads to maritime accidents, special caution is required regarding drunk or hangover navigation due to frequent drinking occasions during the year-end and New Year holidays."

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