S. Korea's Specialized Vessel for Maritime Archaeology
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea launched Asia's first vessel to survey underwater relics on Thursday giving a major boost to its marine archaeology studies that have helped explain Korea's ancient civilization and its exchange with neighboring countries.
The marine survey vessel named Seamuse went into commission for the National Maritime Museum in Mokpo on the country's southwest. It is the first of its kind in Asia, while European countries like France and Germany operate their own, the museum said.
The marine museum was upbeat that the survey vessel will drastically expand the scale of archaeological understanding in Northeast Asia.
The vessel is 19 meters long and 4.4 meters wide and can accommodate up to 13 people. It is equipped with exploration systems that can operate in deep waters, such as a side scan sonar system for searching and detecting objects underwater through photographic images made from its sound waves and remote operated vehicles that use remote controlled robots instead of divers, the museum said.
Seamuse will have its inaugural sail on Nov. 19 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the dicovery of a sunken ancient vessel on the seabed of Sinan off the country's southeast coast which made world headlines. The ship from the latter days of the Goryeo Dynasty (918~1392) carried precious porcelains and coins that defined Korea's civilization and the sea route of trade in Northeast Asia.
hkim@yna.co.kr (END)
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