On the night of 3 March, two fishing vessels collided in the Korea Strait near Hansando Island (South Korea): a 4-ton fishing boat (name not disclosed) and a 59-ton fishing vessel. The larger boat had departed Dongho and was heading to its fishing grounds when it struck the smaller vessel.
According to initial reports, the 59-ton vessel failed to spot the smaller boat in time, leading to the collision. While neither vessel suffered major structural damage, the only crew member aboard the 4-ton boat was thrown overboard. He was wearing a lifejacket, which kept him afloat until he was recovered by the crew of the larger fishing vessel.
Following the incident, the Korea Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to the scene. After confirming there was no risk of sinking or water ingress, authorities escorted both vessels back to port. The Coast Guard said the damage was limited to minor paint scuffs on the hulls.
The lifejacket was reportedly provided by the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (NFC), which promotes a safety initiative encouraging fishermen to wear lifejackets at all times while at sea.
