[Anchor]
With the peak summer vacation season approaching, the number of passengers using sea routes to Jeju is expected to increase this year. For passenger ships that carry large numbers of people at once, safety management is of paramount importance.
JIBS reporter Kim Dong-eun visited a safety inspection site.
[Reporter]
Accidents involving passenger ships are terrifying.
Because hundreds of passengers are on board, even a minor oversight can lead to a major disaster.
This is a 22,000-ton passenger ship preparing for departure.
We went deep inside the vessel.
The engine room radiates intense heat.
Inspectors are focusing on the interior of the main engine, often called the heart of the ship.
[This must not come loose, and neither should this...]
They are checking to ensure there are no issues with the 24,000-horsepower engine.
[Park Bong-wan/Safety Team Leader at H Express: The ship departs four times in total. We conduct inspections before every departure and frequently check if the machinery is operating correctly while underway.]
In the wheelhouse, the core of ship operations, navigation equipment was inspected, and compliance with key regulations was also verified.
This safety inspection will be conducted intensively on passenger ships within the province until next month.
Engine damage accidents on passenger ships nationwide have increased significantly this year.
It has been reported that three engine damage incidents have occurred on passenger ships on Jeju routes since 2023.
More than 40% of engine damage accidents were attributed to human error, such as negligence in maintenance and inspections.
[Jo Pyeong-yeon/Head of the Operation Management Center at the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) Jeju Branch: Above all, prevention is the most important factor. To achieve this, the competence and voluntary commitment of the crew are essential. By preventing even the smallest issues one by one, we can eventually prevent major accidents that we might not foresee.]
Last year, approximately 1.755 million passengers used the eight passenger ships operating from Jeju.
The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority plans to conduct intensive inspections and maintenance response training until next month, and will gradually strengthen safety management in cooperation with passenger shipping companies by the end of this year.
(Video by Yoon In-soo, JIBS | Data: Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority)
JIBS Kim Dong-eun
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