Ship Responsible for Oil Spill off Yeosu Coast Caught by Coast Guard

9,000-Ton Container Ship Ballast Water Contaminated with Fuel Oil Causing Oil Spill

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] The Yeosu Coast Guard Station in Jeollanam-do (Chief Park Je-su) announced on the 5th that it has caught a 9,000-ton container ship that leaked oil into the sea off Yeosu on charges of violating the Marine Environment Management Act.

According to the Yeosu Coast Guard, at around 8:59 a.m. on the 3rd, a report was received from a tourist witness riding the marine cable car who saw a black iridescent oil slick in the sea between Janggun-do Island in Yeosu City and the Yeosu Marine Shipyard, prompting the coast guard to launch an emergency containment operation.

The coast guard mobilized 15 patrol vessels, 1 aircraft, 6 related agency vessels, and 10 private containment ships to carry out emergency containment work, completing the marine pollution containment in about 8 hours.

At the early stage of the accident, a joint marine pollution investigation team was promptly formed, and a wide-ranging investigation was conducted on anchorages, shipyards, and cargo yards to identify the source of pollution. They identified a prime suspect vessel undergoing repairs at the shipyard and conducted a focused investigation.

The joint investigation team conducted a detailed investigation of the 9,000-ton container ship A (registered in Panama). After questioning the captain, Mr. Jeong (in his 60s), he admitted to the oil leakage, leading to charges of violating the Marine Environment Management Act.

The container ship A had a damaged ballast water pipe passing through the fuel oil tank, causing oil to mix with ballast water and be discharged into the sea during the ballast water discharge process. It was confirmed that approximately 1.689㎘ of low-sulfur heavy fuel oil (LSFO) was leaked into the sea.

A Yeosu Coast Guard official said, “Marine workers need to promptly report marine pollution incidents and actively engage in containment efforts to prevent spread. We also urge proper disposal of waste oil (bilge water) and other pollutants.”

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon hss79@asiae.co.kr