Last year, the incidence of maritime accidents in the face of thick fog increased by approximately 18% compared to the previous year, with 1,912 accidents reported.
The Korea Coast Guard has reported a significant increase in maritime accidents during the foggy months of March to July, with 1,912 incidents recorded last year, reflecting an 18% rise from the previous year's 1,622 incidents. The types of vessels involved include a substantial number of fishing boats, leisure boats, and charter vessels, with fishing boats making up the largest portion. This trend has raised concerns within the marine safety community, particularly due to the frequent formation of dense fog resulting from temperature differentials between seawater and air during this period.
The spike in accidents is attributed to the low visibility conditions that typically accompany dense fog, often impairing navigation safety. For instance, accidents have occurred where vessels have collided with breakwaters or other ships due to lack of visibility, emphasizing the heightened risks faced by maritime operators. With data indicating that nearly 90% of fog-related incidents happen within visibility of one kilometer, the need for actionable safety measures has become even more critical.
In response, the Korea Coast Guard plans to implement focused safety management strategies at 84 identified accident-prone areas, including deploying patrol boats and enhancing navigation supervision. The acting head of the Coast Guard, Jang In-sik, has urged mariners to utilize navigation equipment diligently, adhere strictly to safety protocols, and to check weather information before departure to mitigate risks associated with severe foggy conditions. He emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary voyages to ensure maritime safety.
