The first mate and the helmsman, who ran the large car ferry passenger ship Queen Jenuvia II aground off Sinan, South Jeolla, after getting distracted by looking at a mobile phone, were arrested.

First mate A (40) of the large passenger ferry Queen Jenuvia II, which crashes into an uninhabited island off Sinan, South Jeolla, moves to attend a pre-arrest warrant hearing at the Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Court in Mokpo, South Jeolla, on the 22nd. /Courtesy of News1

The Mokpo Maritime Police said on the 22nd that arrest warrants were issued for first mate A, in their 40s, and an Indonesian national helmsman B, in their 40s, who were urgently apprehended on suspicion of Injury by Gross Negligence.

Earlier that afternoon, the Gwangju District Court Mokpo Branch, which handled the pre-arrest suspect questioning (warrant review) for them, made the decision, saying there were concerns about destruction of evidence and flight, the Korea Coast Guard said.

They are suspected of causing the passenger ship to run aground by being distracted in the wheelhouse of Queen Jenuvia II, which was sailing near Jokdo in Sinan County, South Jeolla, at about 8:16 p.m. on the 19th. An analysis of the voyage data recorder (VDR) found that A should have altered course (changed direction) at sea 1,600 meters from the accident point but did not do so.

They also did not switch the autopilot to manual in the narrow channel section, and A spotted Jokdo ahead 13 seconds before the accident and instructed B to change the rudder angle. B said that at the time of the accident B was looking at the gyrocompass (electronic compass) and is denying the related allegation, saying that keeping a lookout ahead is A's duty.

The Korea Coast Guard also plans to seek an arrest warrant on suspicion of violating the Seafarers Act for captain C, in their 60s, who should have directly commanded the ship's handling in the narrow channel section but was resting in the captain's cabin. In addition, it is examining whether the traffic controller in charge of vessel control at the time properly performed the duty and whether the accident could have been prevented.

Queen Jenuvia II departed Jeju for Mokpo at about 4:45 p.m. on the 19th and ran aground later that day when about half the hull mounted onto Jokdo. Of the 267 passengers on board, 30 reported pain and received hospital treatment, and all were said to be out of life-threatening condition.

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