Capsized South Korean ferry 'steered by inexperienced third mate'

The South Korean ferry that sank was steered by an inexperienced third mate.

The inexperienced mate, who is in custody along with the captain and another crew member, had never navigated the challenging waters where the accident occurred, prosecutors have said.

Prosecutors said that the third mate had been steering the ferry in waters that were unfamiliar to her.

Ferry captain Lee Joon-seok, who was not initially on the bridge, faces charges, including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.

According to the BBC, coastguards confirmed that divers had retrieved 13 more bodies from the ferry, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 46.

The Sewol, carrying 476 passengers and crew, capsized during a journey from the port of Incheon in the north-west to the southern holiday island of Jeju, the report added.