Deep-sea Divers Deployed for Hull Search of the 22 Seogyeongho... 44 Days After Sinking

Guide Line Installed on the Seabed at a Depth of 82.8 Meters

A diver being deployed to the sunken Seokyongho. Provided by Jeonnam Province

It has been 44 days since the sinking of the Seogyeongho No. 22, and for the first time since the accident, civilian deep-sea divers have been deployed to search the vessel.

According to Jeollanam-do on the 25th, two civilian professional divers installed a guide line from the main search vessel to the Seogyeongho, which is submerged at a depth of 82.8 meters on the seabed east of Habaekdo, Samsan-myeon, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, at around 11:52 a.m. on this day. Two other divers reportedly connected a guide line to the entrance of the Seogyeongho's wheelhouse.

Jeollanam-do explained that while the divers succeeded in entering the sunken vessel, they were unable to conduct a search and concluded the operation. If weather conditions permit, they plan to enter the vessel and begin a full-scale search on the 26th, but the situation at sea remains a variable.

The divers had also attempted to enter the site on the 23rd, but withdrew due to high waves. Considering tidal conditions, Jeollanam-do believes the next possible search after the 26th will be around the 4th of next month.

Meanwhile, the 139-ton class trawl (bottom trawl) fishing vessel Seogyeongho, registered in Busan, sank on the sea east of Habaekdo, Samsan-myeon, Yeosu-si, on the 9th of last month. On the day of the accident, 9 out of 14 crew members were rescued or found, 5 of whom were confirmed dead, while the remaining 5 are still missing.

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