A large passenger ship, Queen Zenobia No. 2, ran aground after colliding with an uninhabited islet off Jangsan Island in Sinan County, South Jeolla. An initial investigation by the Korea Coast Guard found that the navigating officer was distracted, including looking at a mobile phone, which caused the incident.
According to investigative authorities on the 20th, the Korea Coast Guard confirmed in a first-round interview with key crew members of the Queen Zenobia No. 2 that the collision between the ferry and the uninhabited islet occurred because the vessel was switched to automatic navigation within a narrow-channel section.
At about 4:45 p.m. on the 19th, the Queen Zenobia No. 2 departed Jeju Island for Mokpo carrying 267 people, including 246 passengers and 21 crew. At about 8:16 p.m. the same day, roughly half of the hull rode up onto Jokdo, an uninhabited islet near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, and the ship ran aground.
It was found that the navigating officer, distracted by looking at a mobile phone, left the vessel under autopilot in a section that required manual navigation. Because of this, the ship missed the timing to alter course, and investigative authorities believe it charged toward the uninhabited islet, leading to an accident in which roughly half the hull perched on the rocks.
The waters near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, where the accident occurred, are part of a narrow channel crowded with coastal ferry routes. In such channels, extra caution is required, and ships normally do not rely on autopilot.
The Korea Coast Guard plans to investigate the circumstances of the accident in more detail and determine criminal action related to navigational negligence.