A maritime professor suspects a problem with the steering gear caused the sinking of the ferry.
A maritime professor who spoke with the third mate who was steering the South Korean ferry before it sank says he suspects a problem with the steering gear caused the sinking. (
As ferry death toll rises, hand-wringing over tendency to overlook safety)
Professor Kim Woo-Sook of Mokpo National Maritime University is a former teacher of the third mate, Park Han-gyeol. She was arrested on Saturday in connection with the accident, which left 300 people dead or missing. (
South Korea ferry toll hits 146 as search gets tougher)
Kim talked to Park at a Mokpo detention facility. He says she told him she ordered a helmsman to make a five-degree turn, but the steering gear turned too far and the helmsman could not turn it back. Tracking data show that the ship made a 45-degree turn. (
South Korea ferry crew say it was impossible to deploy life rafts) Prosecutors are examining the turn to try determine the disaster's cause.