Mokpo Coast Guard Urgently Collects Various Floating Debris Amid Heatwave

Approximately 24 Tons of Marine Floating Debris Collected, Including Waste Styrofoam and Waste Wood

Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kim Hae-cheol) announced that it has urgently collected approximately 24 tons of floating debris in the waters under its jurisdiction amid the nationwide heatwave that continues to rage day after day.

On the 5th at around 5:43 a.m., Mokpo Maritime Police received a report that various floating debris, including about 100 pieces of discarded Styrofoam, were drifting approximately 3 km south of Bulmugido, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Mokpo Coast Guard is collecting drifting maritime obstacles.
[Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station]

The maritime police immediately dispatched patrol vessels to the scene, conducted navigational safety broadcasts in the nearby waters, and shared related information with relevant agencies (Sinan-gun Office Control Room) to take urgent action.

To prevent secondary accidents such as ship propeller entanglement with floating debris, containment vessels were deployed in the waters near Bulmugido in Sinan-gun ? Gohado in Mokpo City ? Mokpo National Maritime University ? and the exclusive pier of Mokpo Maritime Police to urgently collect the floating debris.

Following the heavy rains in July and the ongoing heatwave, Mokpo Maritime Police conducted intensive collection operations from the 17th of last month to the 5th using patrol vessels, containment vessels, cranes, and other equipment in the navigation routes and ports within the jurisdiction, including Bukhang in Mokpo City, collecting approximately 134 tons of marine waste.

A representative of Mokpo Maritime Police stated, “We will do our best to prevent marine accidents caused by floating debris and other navigational obstructions and to preserve the marine environment.”