Collision Off Gijang, Busan: Fishing Boat Sinks, Captain Dead, Two Foreign Crew Members Missing

A collision between a gas carrier and a fishing boat off the coast of Gijang County, Busan, resulted in the sinking of the fishing boat, leaving one captain dead and two foreign crew members missing.

According to the Ulsan Coast Guard on June 25, the Korean fishing boat captain in his 60s, who was rescued around 1:30 p.m. that day and transferred to a hospital, was ultimately pronounced dead.

The accident occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. on June 25 in waters about 42.6 kilometers southeast of Daebyeon Port, Gijang County, Busan. After a collision between a 992-ton LPG gas carrier and a 79-ton bottom trawler, the fishing boat sank.

Indonesian crew members rescued from the fishing boat sinking accident that occurred on the 25th in the sea off Daebyeon Port, Gijang-gun, Busan are being transported to Daebyeon Port. [Image source=Yonhap News Agency, provided by Ulsan Coast Guard]

At the time of the accident, a total of eight people were on board the fishing vessel: two Koreans and six Indonesians. The crew members were thrown into the sea immediately after the collision, and six of them were rescued by nearby vessels.

However, it was reported that the captain was already unconscious at the time of the rescue. The Coast Guard transferred the captain to a patrol boat and then rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was ultimately pronounced dead.

Currently, two Indonesian crew members remain missing. The Coast Guard is deploying patrol vessels, aircraft, and other resources to conduct search operations.

Immediately after the accident, the Ulsan Coast Guard activated an emergency response system for all ships and urgently dispatched all available rescue teams to the site. In addition, requests were made for search and rescue cooperation with naval vessels and helicopter units, focusing efforts on locating the missing and saving lives.

The Coast Guard plans to investigate the exact circumstances of the collision and determine whether safety protocols were followed, as soon as the rescue operation is completed, by questioning those involved with the vessels.

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