The crew members of a fishing vessel that halted operations after floating debris became tangled in the propeller in waters near Dokdo were safely rescued by the Coast Guard.

At about 9:41 a.m. on the 6th, the Donghae Maritime Police Station received a report from the 29t-class jig fishing vessel A that was sailing in waters about 3㎞ west of Dokdo, stating, “The propeller is entangled with floating debris and we are unable to sail”.

Upon receiving the report, the Donghae Maritime Police Station immediately dispatched a 1500t-class patrol vessel to the scene of the incident and, while proceeding to the site, asked the crew of A to wear life jackets.

At about 10:32 a.m., the patrol vessel arrived near A and safely removed the floating debris, PVC hose, and rope that were caught in the propeller.

After a test run, A resumed sailing under its own power.

All seven people on board were confirmed to be in good health.

Han Dong-su, head of the Donghae Maritime Police Station, said, “Recently, accidents involving propeller line entanglement caused by floating debris have been occurring one after another,” adding, “While underway, please look carefully for nearby floating debris and strictly observe safety rules”.