Large Oil Spill from Korea National Oil Corporation Crude Oil Transfer Facility off Ulsan Coast

Two oil slicks 20m wide and 100m long formed... 20 coast guard vessels dispatched for emergency containment operations

On the morning of the 11th, oil leaked from the Korea National Oil Corporation crude oil transfer facility (buoy) in the sea off Ulju-gun, Ulsan City, and the coast guard is conducting containment operations. [Image source=Ulsan Coast Guard]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] On the 11th, oil leaked from the Korea National Oil Corporation's offshore crude oil transfer facility, the "buoy," in the waters off Ulsan, prompting the Coast Guard to launch an emergency containment operation.

According to the Ulsan Coast Guard, at around 2:05 a.m. that day, a report was received of an oil smell during crude oil transfer operations at the Korea National Oil Corporation buoy in the waters off Ulju-gun, Ulsan City. In response, 20 vessels including Coast Guard containment boats and eight patrol ships, six Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation vessels, and six private containment ships were urgently dispatched to the scene.

Two oil slicks measuring 20 meters in width and 100 meters in length were confirmed around the accident area.

The Coast Guard and others installed oil fences to prevent the spread of the oil slicks. The inside of the crude oil buoy hose was flushed with seawater to prevent further oil leakage.

The Ulsan Coast Guard deployed divers to conduct a detailed inspection of the underwater hose and to identify the leakage point.

The Coast Guard stated that the damage caused by the oil spill is considered serious, and they have established a situation headquarters to respond to the accident.

The Coast Guard estimates that crude oil leaked from the connection between the buoy's crude oil transfer hose and the underwater pipeline, and they are investigating the exact cause of the accident and the amount of oil spilled.

Oil spilled from the Korea National Oil Corporation crude oil transfer facility (buoy) in the sea off Ulju-gun, Ulsan City, on the morning of the 11th. [Image source=Ulsan Coast Guard]

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