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| National Forensic Service officials head to a patrol boat, Tuesday, to investigate bones found on the deck of a semisubmersible recovery ship set to transport the salvaged ferry Sewol to Mokpo New Port. / Yonhap |
By Kim Bo-eun
Bones found by salvage workers on the semisubmersible recovery ship carrying the ferry Sewol off the southwestern island of Jindo were confirmed by forensic authorities to be animal bones, late Tuesday.
"The National Forensic Service has verified the remains as seven animal bones," the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said.
Earlier in the day, the ministry held a briefing on the findings, stating bones as well as shoes were found at 11:25 a.m. on the deck of the semisubmersible set to transport the Sewol to Mokpo New Port.
The possibility was raised that the bones could be the remains of missing victims of the ferry disaster which occurred on April 16, 2014.
The ferry was being drained and secured to the semisubmersible for its move to Mokpo, Friday, but measures to tie the ship down were temporarily halted.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly named five members of a special vessel investigation committee, Tuesday, which will look into the reasons behind the Sewol disaster. The eight-member committee is now complete as three others had already been selected by the bereaved families. It will seek to clarify various suspicions that have been raised. Six members have at least five years of experience in the field of maritime accidents
In an earlier investigation, the prosecution concluded that the Sewol sank due to excessive remodeling of the ship's superstructure, overloading with cargo and vehicles that were not secured properly, and inept steering by an inexperienced crew.
However, the salvaged ferry may indicate other factors that were also behind the sinking. The ship sank after rapidly turning to the right and then capsizing. The prosecution determined that the rudder had listed to the left, based on video footage before the sinking on the day of the disaster. It concluded there were no problems with the steering gear and that an unskilled helmsman was responsible for the rapid turn.
However, the fully emerged ferry showed its rudder was turned five to 10 degrees to the right. This may indicate that the ship had mechanical problems which could have caused the sinking.
In 2015, the Supreme Court acquitted the helmsman who was indicted on charges of professional negligence, citing the possibility of defective steering gear.
The vessel investigation committee will also look into why the ferry had been loaded with excessive freight. The prosecution said the Sewol had carried 286 tons of iron bars; but a previous investigative body estimated the weight at 410 tons.
A suspicion that the ferry sank after an external collision has mostly been dismissed. Last December, a netizen investigation team named Zaro uploaded an online documentary that claimed the Sewol was struck by a submarine.
However, the salvaged ferry shows no signs of any collision on the bow, stern and right side. The left side is not visible as the ferry is lying on this, but the maritime ministry said it showed no signs either.
The committee will have six months to conduct its investigation, and will be able to request for an extension of up to four more if deemed necessary.
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