West Sea Maritime Police Agency Detects Foreign Cargo Vessel Unresponsive to Traffic Control Calls for Over Two Hours

Gunsan Metropolitan VTS Applies Charge of Failing to Monitor Control Communications

The Gunsan Metropolitan VTS of the West Sea Regional Maritime Police Agency has detected a foreign cargo vessel that operated for an extended period while virtually ignoring traffic control communications.

Gunsan Metropolitan VTS announced that, during a focused enforcement period targeting violations of the Vessel Traffic Service Act for ensuring vessel traffic safety and preventing maritime accidents, it detected a Panama-flagged general cargo ship, referred to as Vessel A, on May 10 for failing to respond to control calls.

According to Gunsan Metropolitan VTS, the vessel did not respond to repeated calls and safety information communications from the controller for approximately two hours, from 8:43 p.m. to 10:58 p.m. on May 10, in the waters near Anchorage A2 at Gunsan Port.

Gunsan Metropolitan VTS plans to impose an administrative fine of up to 900,000 won on the vessel for violating the Vessel Traffic Service Act.

Gunsan Metropolitan VTS panorama. [Photo credit: West Sea Regional Coast Guard]

If the same violation is repeated, the fine will be increased to 1.5 million won for the second offense and 3 million won for the third offense.

Heungmo Kim, Director of the Gunsan Metropolitan VTS Center, stated, "Listening to control communications and responding promptly is the most fundamental safety rule for preventing maritime accidents," and added, "We will continue to strengthen enforcement against violations of laws and regulations to ensure the safety of vessels within the control area."

Meanwhile, the West Sea Regional Maritime Police Agency has been conducting a focused crackdown on violations of the Vessel Traffic Service Act by vessels navigating or anchoring within the control area for three weeks, from May 4 to May 22, 2026.

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