[Ferry Disaster] ‘Third mate at the helm before ferry sank’

Investigative authorities said Friday that the captain of the sunken ferry Sewol gave the wheel to a third mate before the vessel began sinking.

Prosecutors and the police have been conducting an inquiry into the exact cause of the ship’s sinking. 

"We have confirmed that the captain of the Sewol left the wheel to a third mate before the ship began sinking," chief investigator Park Jae-eok said as he announced the interim results of the investigation at the West Regional Headquarters. 

"We are investigating whether the captain left the pilothouse."  

(From news reports)