A tourist submarine unable to surface could easily become a deadly accident. Local officials and organizations recently joined forces for a drill aimed at averting loss of life in such an emergency. Mike Laidman reports. Report
[Slug] Near Munseom Islet in Seogwipo
A submarine full of tourists gets stuck in fishing nets and cannot surface. The emergency call goes out.
“SOS! We are tangled in fishing nets. We cannot surface. We need assistance!” "문섬 인근 해상에서 영업 중 선체 어망이 걸려 운항이 불가하고 긴급 부상을 계속 시도하고 있으나 불가하여 구조요청!"
Divers approach the submarine and start cutting the nets.
They start pumping air into the submarine, and, once full, it begins to surface.
Passengers are able to get out safely and medics provide first aid to anyone who requires it.
The Seogwipo Office of the Ministry of Public Safety and the Jeju Tourism Association organized the drill, which had more than 1,800 coast guard, life guard, and tourist submarine operators participate.
The drill was designed to better prepare the coast guard in the case of an underwater emergency.
Interview Go Dong-su / Seogwipo office of Ministry of Public Safety Thanks to today’s unfavorable weather, we were able to take the drill a little more seriously, better prepare for emergencies, and learn more about the features of the submarine. <고동수/서귀포해양경비안전서 경비구조계장> "기상이 나빴을 때 훈련을 하게 돼서 저희들이 대처할 수 있는 능력을 한층 더 업그레이드 시켰고 잠수함의 특성을 저희들이 그동안 잘 몰랐었는데 오늘 훈련을 계기로 그 특성에 대해 많이 알았다고 생각하고 있습니다."
More than 400,000 tourists boarded submarines in Seogwipo last year.
[REPORTER] Mike Laidman [Camera] Moon Ho-seong
The Seogwipo Office of the Ministry of Public Safety is planning more practical drills to better prepare for emergencies as Jeju’s marine tourism industry continues to grow.
