Classification
- Incident Type: Sinking
- Severity: High
- Operational context: Towing operation
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | 97 Samyong |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Bollard Pull (t) | |
| Power (kW) | |
| Owner/Operator | |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | |
| Crew Size | |
| Reported size | 22 t |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2015-05-26 |
| Time | About 12:30 local |
| Location | Off Dudo Island, Busan, South Korea |
| Region | South Korea |
| Coordinates | 35.1800, 129.0752 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Vessels Lost | |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
| Outcome | The tug sank; two crew members died after being recovered unconscious from the water. |
Key facts
- Segye Ilbo reported that the 22-ton tug sank off Dudo Island in Busan at about 12:30 local time on 26 May 2015.
- World Maritime News, in an account republished by Offshore Energy and attributed to Yonhap, said 97 Samyong was towing a vessel past Dudo Island when the accident occurred.
- Both reports described a towing cable breaking or snapping and striking the side of the tug. This mechanism remains a reported account rather than an official finding.
- Two crew members, including the 53-year-old captain identified by the family name Oh, were recovered unconscious and later died in hospital.
- The World Maritime News account said a security zone was established around the sunken tug and that an investigation was launched.
Narrative
On 26 May 2015 at about 12:30 local time, the tug 97 Samyong was towing a vessel past Dudo Island near Busan. Segye Ilbo reported the tug as 22 t and placed the casualty off Seo-gu, Busan. World Maritime News, in a report attributed to Yonhap, described the same towing operation and identified the tug as 97 Samyong.
The available accounts agree that the towing cable broke or snapped and recoiled or struck the tug's side. This is the reported immediate mechanism; no official investigation finding establishes why the cable failed or how the tug subsequently lost buoyancy. Two crew members, including 53-year-old captain Oh, were recovered unconscious from the water and taken to a local hospital. Segye Ilbo stated that both died at about 14:00.
World Maritime News reported that the port authority established a security zone around the sunken tug to prevent marine pollution and secondary accidents, and that an investigation was launched. No official final report, identified investigating body, pollution assessment, salvage record, or vessel registry record has been identified in publicly accessible reporting. The full crew complement, injuries beyond the two fatalities, missing persons, physical damage, and economic loss therefore remain unconfirmed.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015-05-26 12:30 local | 97 Samyong was towing a vessel past Dudo Island when the towing cable broke or snapped and struck the tug; reports stated that the tug sank. |
| 2015-05-26 between 12:30 and 14:00 local | Two crew members were recovered unconscious from the water and taken to hospital. |
| 2015-05-26 14:00 local | The Korean report stated that the two crew members died after hospital treatment. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Towing-cable failure | Reported | Segye Ilbo and the World Maritime News account said the towing cable broke or snapped and struck the side of the tug. No official causal finding has been identified. |
Investigation
World Maritime News reported that an investigation was launched after the sinking. No official investigating body, final report, or causal findings about the cable failure, the sinking mechanism, pollution, or salvage have been identified in publicly accessible reporting.
References
- Captain and Crewman Die in Tugboat Sinking off Busan Port, Offshore Energy republishing the World Maritime News account
- 부산 해상서 예인선 침몰… 치료 받던 선원 2명 숨져, Segye Ilbo