S. Korea Navy Chief Quizzed About Salvage Ship Absence

The state audit agency has interrogated the chief of the Navy over a faulty Navy salvage ship that failed to participate in the national rescue operation for the ferry Sewol that sank off the southwest coast in April according to an unnamed source cited by Yonhap News Agency.

The interrogation of Navy Chief Adm. Hwang Ki-chul is part of the Board of Audit and Inspection's probe into the military's project to construct the first South Korean-built salvage ship Tongyeong, according to the source.
The military completed the construction of the salvage ship with local shipbuilder Daweoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in 2012, but the military has refused to take over the vessel, citing its insufficient sonar system as well as a remotely operated vehicle for underwater maneuvers.

The ship was not sent to the all-out rescue efforts following the ferry tragedy on April 16, which killed more than 300 passengers.

The audit agency has recently launched its investigation into the salvage ship project in order to find out why the 3,500-ton rescue vessel could not be used when it was most needed.

Source: Yonhap News Agency