An assistant captain and a helmsman accused of running a large car ferry aground off Sinan County, South Jeolla, after getting distracted by looking at a mobile phone appeared for a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review).
A, an assistant captain in his 40s who was urgently arrested by police on suspicion of Injury by Gross Negligence, and B, a helmsman in his 40s of Indonesian nationality, appeared for a warrant review held on the afternoon of the 22nd at the Mokpo branch of the Gwangju District Court. As they got out of the police transport vehicle and headed to the courtroom, they covered their faces with an overcoat bearing the shipping company's name, a hat, and a mask.
When reporters asked, "Do you admit the charges?" and "Is there anything you want to say to the passengers?" A said, "I am sorry for harming many people on this occasion, and I am more sorry to the pregnant woman." To the question, "Have you sailed with the autopilot on in the past?" A said, "I turn on the autopilot only on straight-line sections and switch to manual in course-change sections," adding, "I briefly looked at Naver (on my phone)." B, who was standing behind A, said nothing.
They are accused of causing a grounding accident by failing to properly steer the Queen Jenuvia II while getting distracted, such as searching for news on a mobile phone, at around 8:16 p.m. on the 19th in waters near Jokdo, Sinan County, South Jeolla. They should have changed course 1,600 meters before the accident point but did not, and they also failed to switch from autopilot to manual in the narrow channel section.
A noticed Jokdo ahead only 13 seconds before the accident and ordered B to change the rudder angle. B has denied the related allegations, stating in effect that keeping watch ahead was A's duty and that at the time of the accident B was looking at the gyrocompass (electronic compass).
The Korea Coast Guard has also booked C, the captain in his 60s, on suspicion of violating the Seafarers Act for criminal investigation, as the captain should directly command the ship's handling in the narrow channel section but was resting in the captain's cabin. It is also looking into whether the traffic controller performed duties properly at the time of the accident and whether the accident could have been prevented.