South Korea ferry 'steered by inexperienced third mate'

The third mate is in custody along with the captain and another crew member. Coastguards confirmed on Saturday that divers had retrieved 13 more bodies from the ferry, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 46, BBC News reports. Some 174 passengers have been rescued, with another 256 still missing. Recovery operations may take two months, officials say, as the divers battle strong currents and poor visibility to reach the sunken vessel. "Divers broke through the window of a passenger cabin... and pulled out three bodies," a coastguard official told the AFP news agency on Saturday. All three were wearing lifejackets, he added. 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. Ferry captain Lee Joon-seok, 69 - who was not initially on the bridge - faces charges including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law. 'Unfamiliar' waters Late on Saturday prosecutors said that the third mate had been steering the ferry in waters that were unfamiliar to her. Asked how long the rescue operation was likely to continue, Shin Won-nam, the head of the Emergency Management Centre, told reporters that it could take weeks, if not months. "We are not sure about it. But according to the experts, the rescue may last one or two months," he said. He added that it was very unlikely someone trapped alive after the sinking could survive if it took this long. Relatives have begun providing DNA samples to help identify the dead. Investigations are focusing on a sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order could have saved lives. Footage from the ship appeared to show instructions from crew members for passengers to remain on board even as it tilted dramatically to one side. Mr Lee says he delayed the evacuation, fearing passengers would "drift away". He was shown on television on Saturday following his arrest. "I am sorry to the people of South Korea for causing a disturbance and I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims," he said. To read more go to