The Korea Coast Guard has sought an arrest warrant for the captain of the Queen Jenuvia II after the passenger ferry ran aground off Shinan County last Wednesday, leaving 30 people injured. All 267 passengers and crew were rescued following the grounding.

Authorities said on Sunday that the captain, a man in his 60s, is suspected of gross negligence causing injury and breaching the Seafarers Act.

Investigators found that he had vacated the wheelhouse and was resting in his nearby cabin while the vessel was navigating a narrow and high-risk channel.

The Queen Jenuvia II, a 26,546-ton ferry, was travelling from Jeju to Mokpo when it struck the uninhabited islet of Jok at 8:16 p.m.

Under the Seafarers Act, a captain must remain in the wheelhouse when entering or leaving port or when passing through narrow or hazardous waters.

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The ferry’s own operational guidelines reportedly define the channel where the accident occurred as an area requiring the captain’s direct control.

Officials confirmed that 246 passengers and 21 crew were on board at the time. Rescue operations were completed within three hours and ten minutes of the incident being reported, with 30 people later receiving medical treatment for minor injuries.

The Coast Guard had earlier detained the first officer and a helmsman, both in their 40s, on charges of gross negligence resulting in injury. Investigators said the pair failed to adjust course in time, allowing the vessel to collide with the island.

The first officer was found to have relied on the autopilot system in waters requiring manual navigation. He was also reportedly distracted by his mobile phone and only realised the ferry had drifted off course 13 seconds before the grounding. He then instructed the helmsman to alter the rudder angle, but the island was already directly ahead.

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Before his pre-trial detention hearing, the first officer told reporters that he had “briefly looked” at an online portal on his phone shortly before the accident. He also expressed regret, saying he was sorry for causing harm, including to a pregnant passenger who had been injured.

The helmsman declined to answer media questions and told investigators that the first officer was responsible for monitoring the vessel’s position. He added that by the time he received the rudder order, the island was already in front of them.

On Sunday, the Coast Guard released preliminary findings from a joint inspection carried out with the Korean Register and the National Forensic Service. The review confirmed that the ferry had no structural defects and that the grounding was not caused by mechanical failure.

Authorities are continuing to examine the sequence of events leading up to the grounding and the crew’s handling of the vessel.

References: koreaherald, koreajoongangdaily