SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The navigator of a passenger ferry carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members was distracted by his phone, causing the vessel to run aground on an uninhabited islet off the southwestern coast overnight coastguards said Thursday.
Initial investigations revealed that he failed to switch from autopilot to manual control while passing through a narrow passage, leading to the accident.
The 26,000-ton ferry Queen Zenobia II departed from the southern resort island of Jeju at 4:45 p.m. the previous day and ran aground near Sinan in South Jeolla Province at around 8:17 p.m., becoming stranded.
Preliminary findings indicate that the navigator's negligence caused the ferry to miss a critical turn, leading to its collision with the islet.
Vessels usually do not rely on autopilot in the area, as it requires extra caution.
Authorities plan to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the accident.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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