Sewol to Be Uprighted after a Year in Port

The wreck of the ill-fated South Korean ferry Sewol will be moved in an upright position after laying on its side for over a year in the South Korean Port of Mokpo.

The ferry sank off Jindo Island on April 16, 2014, killing 304 people, 250 of which were high school students on a school trip.

The repositioning of the vessel’s hull, which was raised from the seabed in March last year, will allow for a more thorough search of the vessel for the remains of five missing passengers.

33 steel beams were installed under the vessel on May 7 and it is expected that the vessel will be moved on Thursday, Mary 10, Arirang News reported. As reported, the beams are scheduled to be removed by June 10.

Based on the initial investigation findings, several factors had led to the sinking of the ferry, including an illegal remodeling of the ferry to increase the cargo load, cargo overloading, and the steersman’s poor helmsmanship.

World Maritime News Staff