MV Sewol

Sewol was a RoPax ferry that was built by the Japanese company Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Japanese: 林兼船渠) in 1994.[2] At 146 m (479 ft) in length[3] and 22 m (72 ft) in width,[4] the ferry could carry 921 passengers,[5] or a total of 956 persons, including the crew.[6] The ferry had a legal capacity for 180 vehicles and 154 regular cargo containers.[7] At 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) its range was up to 264 miles (425 km).[8]

Ferry Naminoue in 2010; the side ramp was removed after she was sold to her South Korean owners

The ferry was originally known as Ferry Naminoue (Japanese: フェリーなみのうえ)[9] between 1994 and 2012, and had been operated in Japan for almost 18 years without any accidents.[2] In 2012, the ship was later bought for ₩11.6 billion (US$11.3 million) by Chonghaejin Marine Company, controlled by the family of businessman Yoo Byung-eun.[10][11] The ship was renamed Sewol, and refurbished.[12] Modifications included adding extra passenger cabins on the third, fourth, and fifth decks, raising the passenger capacity by 117, and increasing the weight of the ship by 239 tons.[13][14] After regulatory and safety checks by the Korean Register of Shipping,[12] the ship began her operation in South Korea on 15 March 2013.[15] The ship made three round-trips every week from Incheon to Jeju.[16] In February 2014 it was reported that Sewol again passed a vessel safety inspection by the South Korean Coast Guard following an intermediate survey to ensure the ship remained in a general condition which satisfied requirements set by the Korean Register of Shipping.[17]

On the evening of 15 April 2014, Sewol departed Incheon for a standard overnight crossing to Jeju Island. The ferry was crewed by a complement of 33 and was carrying 443 passengers, 325 of whom were second-year students from Danwon High School in Ansan. The following morning, Sewol capsized and sank 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) off Donggeochado, Jindo County, South Jeolla Province.[18] Of the 476 people on board, there were only 172 survivors. 304 of those on board died, 250 of whom were Danwon students.[19]

The South Korea government's Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that the Korean Register's licensing was based on falsified documents.[20] After the incident, the company reported that the ship was carrying 124 cars, 56 trucks, and 1157 tons of cargo.[21] The amount of cargo carried was twice the legal limit.[22]

On 12 February 2015, Kim Kyung-il, the coastguard captain responsible for rescue efforts, was sentenced to four years in prison for negligence and falsified reporting.[23]

In April 2015, a technical report concluded that it was feasible to raise the wreck of Sewol, and President Park said she hoped that it would be carried out as soon as possible.[19] Following the receipt of tenders from salvage companies, it was announced on 15 July 2015 that a consortium led by China's Shanghai Salvage Company was the favoured bidder, at a cost of 85.1 billion won (US$74.6 million).[24]

On 22 March 2017, salvage operation began to raise the wreck of sunken Sewol.[25] The vessel was raised on 23 March.[26] The wreck was moved onshore at Mokpo on 12 April.[27] The vessel was searched for the remains of the nine missing victims.[28]

While the lifted ferry was transported on board a semi-submersible vessel, her weight was estimated to be 17,000 tonnes, including the contribution of remaining mud inside. In terms of weight and number of axle-lines (600), it doubled the world record for a transport by SPMTs.[29]

34.2181°N 125.9500°E / 34.2181; 125.9500