Ferry captain attends arrest warrant hearing over grounding accident

The captain, center, of the Queen Jenuvia II that ran aground off the southwestern Korean coast last month attends an arrest warrant hearing at a court in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Yonhap

The captain of the Queen Jenuvia II, a large passenger ship that ran aground off the southwestern coast last month, attended an arrest warrant hearing Tuesday on charges of causing injury by gross negligence and violating the seamen's law.

The 26,546-ton ship carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members ran aground on an uninhabited islet while sailing in narrow waters off the coast of Sinan, South Jeolla Province, on Nov. 19, injuring about 30 of them.

The first mate and helmsman were put under arrest three days later for not properly steering the ferry while on duty.

The captain, in his 60s, whose identity was withheld, is accused of staying outside the wheelhouse as the ferry passed through Sinan's narrow waters in violation of the Seafarers Act.

He attended the hearing held at the Mokpo branch of the Gwangju District Court, saying he feels sorry to the passengers. The hearing was completed in just 20 minutes and he was sent to a Coast Guard detention facility to await the court's decision, which is expected to be released late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.