Tongyeong Coast Guard Catches Fishing Vessel Departing After Spilling 650ℓ of Fuel

Oil spill in Dongho Port, Tongyeong. (Photo by Tongyeong Coast Guard)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] Tongyeong Maritime Police Station announced on the 5th that it has caught an 80-ton fishing vessel A-ho that leaked fuel and departed without taking any measures.

According to the maritime police, A-ho leaked about 650 liters of oil while departing from Dongho Port in Tongyeong City around 2 a.m. on the 31st of last month for fishing operations.

After receiving a report that diesel fuel seemed to have leaked into the sea, the maritime police dispatched officers and investigated 20 vessels entering and leaving Dongho Port, confirming that A-ho was responsible for the leak. Then, using five vessels including a containment ship, they installed a 100-meter oil fence and used 420 kg of containment materials to complete the cleanup operation over three days.

The maritime police plan to book the captain of A-ho on charges of violating the Marine Environment Management Act and investigate the cause of the leak and reasons for no response.

A maritime police official said, "We will track down any vessel that leaks oil into the sea until the end and ensure it is caught."

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