Low ocean depth threatens safe sailing in Inchon

Water depths at the Port of Inchon were far lower than standard levels due to accumulated soil in the basin, threatening vessel safety.

According to Inchon Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the current harbor depths at the 53rd berth in Inchon only reach 1.5 meters even though they need to be 5 meters deep for vessels to operate. Also, the front sea of the 45th berth is between 2.9 and 3.7 meters deep, though the required water depth is between 4.3 and 4.5 meters. The water depth in front of the 22nd berth only shows 2.3 meters, far below the required depth level of 3.6 meters. A total of 26 points in the Port of Inchon were found to be below standard safe depth levels.

These shallow water depths threaten the safe operation of large vessels through the Port of Inchon, and force large vessels to stay in dockyards until high tide in the Southern Port in Inchon, causing delays and wasting money.

Accumulated soil in the sea accounted for shallow sea-depths. "It is not for all of Inchon Port, but parts of the port have become too shallow partially due to soil accumulation. The port will be dredged next month after finishing some research on how best to go about it," an official at the Port said.