West Sea Coast Guard Launches Crackdown on Vessel Traffic Safety Violations

Strengthening Maritime Accident Prevention and Raising Safety Awareness Among Vessel Operators

The West Sea Regional Coast Guard (Commissioner Lee Myungjun) announced that it will launch a focused crackdown on violations of laws related to vessel traffic control in order to prevent maritime accidents and enhance the safety awareness of vessel operators.

The five Maritime Traffic Control Centers (VTS) under the West Sea Regional Coast Guard?Gunsan, Mokpo, two centers in Yeosu, and Wando VTS?will begin a one-week period of advance notice and public guidance through SNS, text messages, banners, and VHF broadcast announcements starting from the 12th. After this period, they will conduct an intensive crackdown until the 30th.

Employees of the West Sea Coast Guard Maritime Traffic Control Center (VTS) are monitoring vessels. Provided by the West Sea Regional Coast Guard.

Over the past five years, a total of 48 violations of regulations were detected at the five Maritime Traffic Control Centers (VTS) of the West Sea Regional Coast Guard. The most common violation was failure to monitor VHF, with 18 cases (38%), followed by operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, with 8 cases (17%).

During this period, the West Sea Regional Coast Guard plans to focus its enforcement on the following violations to prevent maritime accidents: failure to monitor or respond to control communications, operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, and exceeding speed limits.

According to the Vessel Traffic Control Act, if the captain of a vessel subject to control fails to comply with vessel traffic control without a valid reason, he or she may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. In addition, violations of control procedures, such as the obligation to monitor control communications, are subject to a fine of up to 3 million won.

A representative of the West Sea Regional Coast Guard stated, "We hope that this crackdown will serve as an opportunity to prevent maritime accidents and raise safety awareness."

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