In South Korea, a ferry ran aground because the helmsman was glued to his phone.

The navigator and first mate, who also failed to monitor the vessel's course, face prison sentences.

In the Yellow Sea off the southwest coast of South Korea, the large passenger ferry Queen Jenuvia II, carrying 267 people, ran aground on a rocky shore. A debriefing revealed that the navigator was busy checking the news on his smartphone and forgot to disengage the autopilot in a section of the ship that required manual control. The first mate, who was outside the wheelhouse and unable to prevent the incident, also stood out. Media reports indicate that the captain was on a scheduled rest break at the time.

According to the navigator, he missed the turn 1.6 km from the island and noticed his mistake when the ferry was already 100 meters away. There was no time or space left to maneuver, and the vessel ultimately struck the shore.

There were 246 passengers and 21 crew members on board the ferry. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured—five people suffered minor injuries, and another 27 sought medical attention complaining of pain and nervous shock. All passengers were evacuated from the ferry three hours later.

The navigator and first mate reportedly face up to five years in prison for negligence.