A major search and rescue operation is underway off Busan, South Korea, after the tug TNS CATCHER capsized and sank while assisting a containership. One crew member has died, one survived and six remain missing.
The accident occurred on September 2 in waters off Busan while the tug was engaged in towing operations involving a Liberia-flagged containership.
There were eight people onboard TNS CATCHER — six South Korean nationals and two Indonesian crew members.
One Indonesian crew member survived the accident. The 53-year-old cook was reportedly inside the galley when the tug capsized. He managed to escape onto the stern of the overturned vessel and was later rescued with assistance from the nearby containership.
Another crew member, a 57-year-old second engineer, was found unconscious inside the overturned hull. He was taken to hospital but later died.
The remaining six seafarers are still missing.
Search and rescue operations continued into the night, with 19 vessels from the Coast Guard, Navy, municipal and fire services deployed to the area, together with aircraft and specialist rescue equipment.
The South Korean Navy rescue vessel ROKS GWANGYANG also joined the operation, supporting underwater search efforts around the wreck.
The search has been complicated by difficult sea conditions, including waves of around 1 to 1.5 metres, north-westerly winds of 4–6 m/s and strong currents.
Authorities have continued to expand the search area as efforts to locate the missing crew members remain ongoing.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung instructed authorities to mobilise all available resources for the rescue and recovery operation.
The exact cause of the capsizing has not yet been confirmed.
Investigators are expected to examine the tug’s stability, towing arrangements, towline tension, vessel movements and operational procedures in order to determine what caused TNS CATCHER to overturn.
The search for the six missing crew members remains the main priority as rescue teams continue operations in the area.
