South Korean Tugboat TNS CATCHER Capsizes off Busan; One Dead, Six Missing

South Korean tugboat TNS CATCHER capsized about nine kilometers southeast of Oryukdo, off the coast of Busan, at around 1:29 PM local time on September 2. The 286-ton vessel had been assisting a 66,332-ton Liberian-flagged containership when it suddenly overturned.

One crew member died. Six remain missing. The lone survivor, a 53-year-old Indonesian cook, was pulled from the water roughly 20 minutes after the capsize. Eight people were on board: six South Korean nationals and two Indonesians.

TNS CATCHER sank completely at 3:27 PM in approximately 87 meters of water. Thirteen patrol and rescue vessels and aircraft were deployed in the response, along with the Korea Coast Guard Special Rescue Unit. Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered all available resources mobilized. Search teams faced waves of 1 to 1.5 meters and strong currents.

The crew member who died was 57 years old. The cause of the capsize had not been determined as of initial reports.