View source for MV Sewol

{{Short description|South Korean ferry}}
{{Redirect|Sewol|the capsizing incident that occurred on 16 April 2014|Sinking of MV Sewol}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|infobox caption=MV ''Sewol''}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:Ferry Sewol 1.jpg|border|300px]]
|Ship caption=MV ''Sewol'' at [[Incheon]] in March 2014
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name=*''Ferry Naminoue'' (1994–2012)
*''Sewol'' (2013–2014)
|Ship owner=*Oshima Unyu, [[Kagoshima]], Japan (1994–2007)
*A-Line Ferry Company, Kagoshima, Japan (2007–2012)
*[[Chonghaejin Marine]], [[Incheon]], South Korea (2012–2014)
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Naze, Kagoshima|Naze]], Japan (1994–2012)
*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Incheon]], South Korea (2012–2014)
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., [[Nagasaki]], Japan
|Ship yard number=1006
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=13 April 1994
|Ship completed=June 1994
|Ship christened=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification={{IMO Number|9105205}}
|Ship fate=[[Sinking of MV Sewol|Capsized and sank on 16 April 2014]], Salvaged 2017
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship type= [[RoPax]] [[ferry]]
|Ship tonnage=*{{GT|6835}}
*{{DWT|3794}}
|Ship length={{convert|145.61|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|22.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|6.26|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth={{convert|14.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship power=*2{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}Diesel United-[[SEMT Pielstick|Pielstick]] 12PC2-6V-400
*{{convert|11912|kW|hp|abbr=on}} (combined)
|Ship propulsion=*Two shafts; fixed pitch propellers
*[[Bow thruster|Bow and stern thrusters]]
|Ship speed={{convert|21.5|kn}}
|Ship capacity=*As ''Sewol'': 921 passengers, 88 cars, 60 8-ton trucks
*As ''Ferry Naminoue'': 804 passengers, 90 cars, and 60 trucks
|Ship crew=35
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''MV ''Sewol''''' ([[Hangul]]: 세월호, [[Hanja]]: 世越號, ''Beyond the World'')<ref>{{cite news |last=Kim (김) |first=Myung-ji (명지) |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/24/2014042400077.html |script-title=ko:[세월호 참사 / 유병언 – 家 비리의혹] 세월호의 '세월(世越)'은 '세상을 초월'… 유씨 自稱 '아해'는 '야훼(하나님)'를 의미 |publisher=chosun.com |date=24 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |language=Korean |archive-date=27 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527025434/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/24/2014042400077.html? |url-status=live }}</ref><ref group=note>The meaning has been widely, but incorrectly, reported as 'time and tide.'</ref> was a South Korean vehicle-passenger ferry, built and previously operated in Japan. She operated between [[Incheon]] and [[Jeju City|Jeju]].  On 16 April 2014, [[Sinking of MV Sewol|''Sewol'' capsized and sank]] with the loss of 304 passengers and crew.

==Description==
''Sewol'' was a [[RoPax]] ferry that was built by the Japanese company Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. ({{langx|ja|林兼船渠}}) in 1994.<ref name="Bloomberg 042414">{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Cynthia |last2=Cha |first2=Seonjin |last3=Kim |first3=Sam |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-24/divers-continue-search-as-south-korea-ferry-probe-turns-to-cargo.html |title=Divers Continue Search as Ferry Probe Turns to Cargo |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |date=24 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113827/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-24/divers-continue-search-as-south-korea-ferry-probe-turns-to-cargo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At {{convert|146|m|abbr=on}} in length<ref>{{cite news |last=Williamson |first=Lucy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27045512 |title=South Korea ferry: Hundreds missing as ship sinks |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=16 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=1 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701225538/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27045512 |url-status=live }}</ref> and {{convert|22|m|abbr=on}} in width,<ref name="ChannelA">{{cite news |last=Yun (윤) |first=JungHye (정혜) |url=http://news.ichannela.com/society/3/03/20140416/62826514/1 |script-title=ko:침몰 세월호 20년 된 노후선...재작년 日서 도입 |publisher=Channel A |date=16 April 2014 |accessdate=17 April 2014 |language=Korean |trans-title=The capsized Sewol, an old ship that's 20 years old... brought in last year from Japan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180046/http://news.ichannela.com/society/3/03/20140416/62826514/1 |archive-date=16 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ferry could carry 921 passengers,<ref name="LA Times">{{cite news |last=Borowiec |first=Steven |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-south-korea-ferry-hundreds-missing-20140416,0,6773048.story |title=Nearly 300 Missing after South Korea ferry sinks |date=16 April 2014 |accessdate=16 April 2014 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=16 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416210121/http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-south-korea-ferry-hundreds-missing-20140416,0,6773048.story |url-status=live }}</ref> or a total of 956 persons, including the crew.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Sam |last2=Kang |first2=Shinhye |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-22/grief-turns-to-anger-at-government-over-ferry-sinking.html |title=Grief Turns to Anger at Government Over Ferry Sinking |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |date=22 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113830/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-22/grief-turns-to-anger-at-government-over-ferry-sinking.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The ferry had a legal capacity for 180 vehicles and 154 regular cargo containers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bae |first=Ji-sook |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140420000299 |title=[Ferry Disaster] 'Overload, massive extension might have caused disaster' |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |publisher=Herald Corporation |date=20 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175609/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140420000299 |url-status=live }}</ref> At {{convert|22|kn}} its range was up to {{convert|264|mi}}.<ref name="News1 1042">{{cite news |last1=Han (한) |first1=JiHo (지호) |last2=Joo (주) |first2=YoungMin (영민) |url=http://news1.kr/articles/1635165 |script-title=ko:진도 여객선 침몰사고 세월호는?(종합) |publisher=News1 Korea |date=16 April 2014 |accessdate=18 April 2014 |language=Korean |trans-title=Jindo Ferry capsizing accident, the Sewol? (compiled) |archive-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419011936/http://news1.kr/articles/1635165 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Operations==
[[File:Ferry Naminoue 20100214 brightened.jpg|thumb|''Ferry Naminoue'' in 2010; the side ramp was removed after she was sold to her South Korean owners]]
The ferry was originally known as ''Ferry Naminoue'' ({{langx|ja|フェリーなみのうえ}})<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunken ferry once plied Japan's seas |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/17/national/sunken-ferry-once-plied-japans-seas-2 |newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] |date=17 April 2014 |accessdate=5 July 2014 |archive-date=16 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716151733/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/17/national/sunken-ferry-once-plied-japans-seas-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> between 1994 and 2012, and had been operated in [[Japan]] for almost 18 years without any accidents.<ref name="Bloomberg 042414" /> In 2012, the ship was later bought for {{SK won|11.6|link=yes}} billion ({{US$|11.3}} million) by [[Chonghaejin Marine|Chonghaejin Marine Company]], controlled by the family of businessman [[Yoo Byung-eun]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/06/2014050600343.html |title=The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea&nbsp;– Greed Was Biggest Culprit in Ferry Disaster |publisher=English.chosun.com |date=6 May 2014 |accessdate=28 May 2014 |archive-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009065620/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/06/2014050600343.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2014/04/488_155884.html|title=Chonghaejin Marine's 'real' owner hunted|work=[[The Korea Times]]|date=22 April 2014|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-date=21 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521033244/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2014/04/488_155884.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ship was renamed ''Sewol'', and refurbished.<ref name="CNN 0426">{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=Judy |last2=Lah |first2=Kyung |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/26/world/asia/south-korea-national-psyche/ |title=Ferry disaster's toll on South Korea's national psyche |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] |work=[[CNN]] |date=27 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=14 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614050554/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/26/world/asia/south-korea-national-psyche |url-status=live }}</ref> Modifications included adding extra passenger cabins on the third, fourth, and fifth decks, raising the passenger capacity by 117, and increasing the weight of the ship by 239 tons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/24/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking |title=Families angrily confront officials over South Korea ferry search |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date=24 April 2014 |accessdate=14 June 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142618/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/24/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McKirdy |first1=Euan |last2=Cha |first2=Frances |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/17/world/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry-explainer/ |title=South Korea's Sewol ferry disaster: The challenge ahead |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] |work=[[CNN]] |date=18 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=5 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705145005/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/17/world/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry-explainer |url-status=live }}</ref> After regulatory and safety checks by the [[Korean Register of Shipping]],<ref name="CNN 0426" /> the ship began her operation in South Korea on 15 March 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/07/2014050701710.html |title=Sewol Operator Routinely Overloaded Ferry |newspaper=Chosun.com |date=7 May 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083852/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/07/2014050701710.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The ship made three round-trips every week from [[Incheon]] to [[Jeju Province|Jeju]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3993 |title=Hopes fade of finding Sewol survivors |publisher=Jeju Weekly |date=21 April 2014 |accessdate=3 July 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081454/http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3993 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2014 it was reported that ''Sewol'' again passed a vessel safety inspection by the [[Korea Coast Guard|South Korean Coast Guard]] following an intermediate survey to ensure the ship remained in a general condition which satisfied requirements set by the Korean Register of Shipping.<ref name="Khan">{{cite news |url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201404161626431&code=940202 |script-title=ko:=침몰한 세월호, 1994년 일본서 건조 |publisher=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |date=16 April 2014 |accessdate=17 April 2014 |language=Korean |trans-title=The capsized Sewol, built by a ship company in 1994 |archive-date=16 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192102/http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201404161626431&code=940202 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sinking==
{{Main|Sinking of MV Sewol}}
On the evening of 15 April 2014, ''Sewol'' departed Incheon for a standard overnight crossing to Jeju Island. The ferry was crewed by a complement of 33 and was carrying 443 passengers, 325 of whom were second-year students from [[Danwon High School]] in Ansan. The following morning, ''Sewol'' [[Sinking of MV Sewol|capsized and sank]] {{convert|1.5|km}} off [[Donggeochado]], [[Jindo County]], [[South Jeolla Province]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_201404222107054769 |script-title=ko:동거차도에서 본 이 시각 구조 현장 |publisher=[[YTN]] |date=22 April 2014 |accessdate=24 September 2014 |language=Korean |trans-title=Current Rescue Scene as seen from Donggeochado |archive-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029223829/http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_201404222107054769 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the 476 people on board, there were only 172 survivors. 304 of those on board died, 250 of whom were Danwon students.<ref name=CNN15072015>{{cite news|last1=Park|first1=Madison|last2=Hancocks|first2=Paula|title=Sewol ferry disaster: One year on, grieving families demand answers|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/15/asia/sewol-ferry-korea-anniversary/|accessdate=15 July 2015|work=CNN|date=16 April 2015|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716114708/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/15/asia/sewol-ferry-korea-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The South Korea government's Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that the Korean Register's licensing was based on falsified documents.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=K.J. |last2=Yan |first2=Holly |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/09/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-report |title=Report: S. Korean ferry operators prioritized profits over safety |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] |work=[[CNN]] |date=9 July 2014 |accessdate=25 August 2014 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826135108/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/09/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-report |url-status=live }}</ref> After the incident, the company reported that the ship was carrying 124 cars, 56 trucks, and 1157 tons of cargo.<ref>{{cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-hun |title=4 Employed by Operator of Doomed South Korean Ferry Are Arrested |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/asia/employees-of-south-korean-ferry-operator-are-arrested.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=6 May 2014 |accessdate=15 September 2014 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812105244/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/asia/employees-of-south-korean-ferry-operator-are-arrested.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The amount of cargo carried was twice the legal limit.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=Nash |url=http://time.com/2968886/south-korea-sewol-ferry-license-cargo/ |title=South Korean Ferry Was Operating Illicitly, State Report Says |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=9 July 2014 |accessdate=15 September 2014 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812053438/http://time.com/2968886/south-korea-sewol-ferry-license-cargo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 12 February 2015, Kim Kyung-il, the coastguard captain responsible for rescue efforts, was sentenced to four years in prison for negligence and falsified reporting.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/12/world/korea-sewol-coast-guard-jailed/ | title = South Korean coast guard captain jailed for 4 years over botched Sewol rescue | date = 12 February 2015 | accessdate = 12 February 2015 | publisher = CNN | archive-date = 12 February 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150212155429/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/12/world/korea-sewol-coast-guard-jailed/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Salvage==

In April 2015, a technical report concluded that it was feasible to raise the wreck of ''Sewol,'' and President Park said she hoped that it would be carried out as soon as possible.<ref name=CNN15072015 /> Following the receipt of tenders from salvage companies, it was announced on 15 July 2015 that a consortium led by China's Shanghai Salvage Company was the favoured bidder, at a cost of 85.1&nbsp;billion won (US$74.6&nbsp;million).<ref name=CTV15072015>{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Tong-Hyung|title=South Korea chooses company to lift sunken Sewol ferry|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/south-korea-chooses-company-to-lift-sunken-sewol-ferry-1.2469779|accessdate=15 July 2015|work=CTV News|issue=15 July 2015|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716150806/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/south-korea-chooses-company-to-lift-sunken-sewol-ferry-1.2469779|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 22 March 2017, salvage operations began to raise the wreck of the sunken ''Sewol''.<ref>{{cite web |title=South Korea begins operations to recover sunken Sewol ferry |date=22 March 2017 |publisher=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry/ |access-date=22 March 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044045/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The vessel was raised on 23 March.<ref name=BBC39361944>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39361944 |title=Sewol disaster ferry raised in South Korea after three years |work=BBC News Online |accessdate=23 March 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323044725/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39361944 |url-status=live }}</ref> The wreck was moved onshore at Mokpo on 12 April.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Da-sol|title=Sewol finally moved ashore|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170409000203|accessdate=24 November 2017|work=The Korea Herald|date=9 April 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033821/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170409000203|url-status=live}}</ref> The vessel was searched for the remains of the nine missing victims.<ref name=WMN217498>{{cite web |url=http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/217498/sewol-transferred-to-land-search-for-remains-to-start/ |title=Sewol Transferred to Land, Search for Remains to Start |date=12 April 2017 |publisher=World Maritime News |accessdate=12 April 2017 |archive-date=13 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072639/http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/217498/sewol-transferred-to-land-search-for-remains-to-start/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

While the lifted ferry was transported on board a semi-submersible vessel, her weight was estimated to be 17,000 tonnes, including the contribution of remaining mud inside. In terms of weight and number of axle lines (600), it doubled the world record for transport by [[Self-propelled modular transporter|SPMT]]s.<ref>[http://www.ale-heavylift.com/news/ale-break-spmt-world-record-during-complex-salvage-ferry-operation-in-south-korea-2/ ALE break SPMT world record during complex salvage ferry operation in South Korea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720043647/http://www.ale-heavylift.com/news/ale-break-spmt-world-record-during-complex-salvage-ferry-operation-in-south-korea-2/ |date=20 July 2017 }} ale-heavylift.com, 15 June 2017 (08:47), retrieved 20 December 2017. – Remaining mud as 4.000 t extra weight.</ref>

===Wreck location===

As of April 2024, the wreck of ''Sewol'' remains onshore at the [[Port of Mokpo]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Teo |first=Wendy |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/families-of-sewol-ferry-tragedy-victims-fighting-to-keep-memories-alive-10-years-on |title=10 years on, families of Sewol tragedy victims fight for answers |work=[[The Straits Times]] |date=16 April 2024 |orig-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=3 June 2024 |quote=The salvaged Sewol ferry, which sank in April 2014, still remains stationed at a port in Mokpo, South Korea.}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{2014 shipwrecks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|34.2181|N|125.9500|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sewol}}
[[Category:MV Sewol| ]]
[[Category:Ferries of South Korea]]
[[Category:1994 ships]]